A/N Just wanted to give a shoutout to Abracadabra and everyone else who left reviews for the support on this story. It's very much appreciated.
Klink decided to close up the store early. He was supposed to close in about twenty minutes but doubted anyone was going to come, seeing as the temperature was dropping and the wind was picking up. He was hoping to get back home before the weather got any worse.
Just as Klink was about to lock the door behind him, he saw a figure approaching. It was a large man, holding what looked like a bundle of clothing in his arms. As he came closer, Klink could make out that the pile of clothes was actually a young child, he figured about nine or ten years old, who was wrapped in an adult's jacket.
"Sorry sir, we're closed." Klink told the man.
"Please, I have a sick child with me." The boy he was holding did look awfully feverish.
"Alright, but make it quick."
Klink went to the back of the store where he kept the medicine. As he was sorting through them all, trying to find the fever reducers, he couldn't help but think that the boy looked very familiar.
Meanwhile, Schultz sat down on a chair he found and was talking with the child, trying to get through his fevered daze.
"It's alright Robbie, we'll get some medicine in you and you'll feel all better." Schultz said, both for Robbie's comfort and his own.
"We…we need to get the info to Goldilocks… from Papa Bear about the bridge." Robbie muttered, clearly not fully aware of what Schultz had said, or anything else going on around him.
"Yes, yes, we'll get the info to Mama Bear from Goldilocks. Don't worry about that now, just try to relax."
Klink came in with the medicine and a spoon, which he gave to Schultz. "How long has he been like this?"
"He's had a fever for about two or three days now. It spiked a few hours ago."
Klink observed Robbie as he continued to mumble to himself about secret messages to Goldilocks. "Is he hallucinating?"
"I'm not sure. He does talk about these things when he's not sick. It's this game that the boys play where they pretend to be spies."
"That's it! That's where I remember him from!" Klink blurted as Robbie winced at the noise. "Him and those other boys are always stealing my grocery supply. They come in, talking nonsense about sending messages to London and sneaking out of camp, then when I check my stock at the end of the day it's always less than it should be." Schultz figured he should probably be mad at the boys for stealing, but he honestly couldn't find the energy to be. The rations the orphanage was providing them with wasn't enough, he couldn't say he was surprised that they resorted to stealing.
"I'll give them a talking to when he's better." Schultz said. He unscrewed the medicine lid, scooped it up with the spoon and held it towards Robbie's mouth. "Here you go, open wide."
"I don't want any medicine." Robbie whined, burying his head in Schultz's chest.
"I don't think he's going to have any unless we mix it into something else." Said Schultz. He looked sheepishly at Klink "I… I don't know if I have the money to pay for it, but it would be helpful if you have any oatmeal."
Klink looked increasingly more annoyed at Schultz. "Fine, I'll give you some oatmeal, but then you're leaving." Klink went to his kitchen in the back, then came back a few minutes later with a small bowl of oatmeal. Schultz gave Robbie a few spoonfuls, then mixed the medicine in and fed him the rest.
Robbie looked better, but still not well enough to walk, so Schultz carried him as they left the store. "Thank you very much sir." Said Schultz after he had paid for the medication. They all left the store, with Klink locking the door behind them and walking in the opposite direction of where Schultz and Robbie were headed.
Robbie waited until Klink was out of earshot before admitting this. "Just for the record, I would have had the medicine without any oatmeal. I just wanted to see if we could squeeze some more supplies out of him before he kicks us out for good."