Chapter 6:
Chris turned his head away and scowled.
"Answer me," Spot said, nudging the boy with his foot.
"You know what I was doing... I was seeing if there was anyone else on the island."
"First you disobey me, THEN you bring Ann along, causing her to disobey too."
"-I- didn't bring her along. I told her to stay home. She followed me."
"YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE LEFT IN THE FIRST PLACE!"
He looked down, scowling more. "I know... But I did. Can't change that, can you?"
"No I can't. But that doesn't mean that you both aren't in trouble," Spot said, sending Ann a look.
Ann sulked. "I was only making sure he didn't go alone.... Miss Rae said we weren't supposed to go into the woods alone...."
Rae turned the little girl to face her. "You weren't supposed to go in the woods without me or Spot."
Ann whimpered and tears filled her eyes. "Are ya gonna 'pank me again?"
Rae looked over Ann's head at Spot.
Spot sighed and shook his head. "Not this time.... but next time you're in trouble missy."
Ann wrapped her arms around Rae's neck, "I'm really sorry Miss Rae."
Sighing, she hugged the girl. "It's okay. Just don't ever do it again. We were worried about the both of you."
Ann pulled back, "Chris is hurt!"
She looked over at him. "What happened?"
"I turned my ankle." Chris said, looking down at his swollen ankle.
Spot crouched down next to him. "All right. Take off your shoe. Let me see."
Chris tried to ease his shoe off, but winced in pain.
Spot pulled his shoe off for him and gingerly prodded the ankle. "Well, looks like you banged this up pretty well, my friend."
"I can't put any weight on it. I already tried."
Already, he was grabbing both of Chris' arms and heaving him onto his back with a grunt. "I'll just carry you back."
"Spot, please be careful," Rae said, lifting Ann into her arms.
"I am." He paused to grunt again. "I am, don't worry."
* * *
"What if a snake got them Julie?" Andy asked as he and Julie waited rather impatiently in the tree house.
"I doubt a snake would have gotten them. Spot and Rae and Chris would have been strong enough to fight one little snake, don't you think?"
"I guess." Andy said starting to pace. "Where are they?"
"I'm sure they're on their way back," Julie replied soothingly.
"JULIE, BRING ME THAT SAC OF RAGS!" Rae yelled from below.
They both jumped, startled. "See, told you!" Julie grabbed the sack and scurried down the ladder to where Rae and Spot were standing over Chris "What happened?" she asked, eyeing her brother curiously.
"I hurt my ankle." he said as Rae knelt in front of him. She carefully took the ankle in her hands and began to wrap it tightly.
"Where were you? Was Ann there too?"
"I don't know where we were." Chris answered.
She shook her head. "If Papa would have been here... Ooh, you would have been in so much trouble!"
"I'm already in trouble," he muttered, looking up at Spot.
"That you are," Spot agreed.
Chris sighed, "What's my punishment?"
Spot looked at Rae. "What do you think it should be, dear?"
"He's going to be laid up with this ankle for a few days possibly two weeks, so I think his having to stay up in the tree house is going to be punishment enough." Rae suggested.
"Good idea and it sounds like a good punishment for Miss Ann too." Spot replied, looking at the little girl.
Ann pouted, but she didn't argue. It seemed as though she might have learned her lesson earlier on.
Rae stood. "I've done all I can for that ankle Chris. You'll just have to stay off of it until it heals."
With a sigh, he grumbled under his breath, but nodded. "How am I getting up there?"
"I guess I'll have to carry you up," Spot said.
Rae arched her brow. "Are you sure you can do it?"
"Unless he thinks he can get up there by himself, then I'll have to."
"If you fall and kill yourself, I'll kill you," she threatened.
"Hey! What about me? If he gets killed so will I!" Chris yelped.
"Okay, I'll kill him for you too."
Chris rolled his eyes. "I think if you can just get me over to the ladder I can hop up one rung at a time."
"Much better," she praised. "Come on Spot. Help me."
They lifted the boy to his feet and each slung one of his arms around their shoulders.
"You need to cut back on the fish, Chris," Spot groaned, but he smirked teasingly.
He just scowled.
"Lighten up, Chris." Rae said as they helped him over to the ladder.
Spot burst out laughing. "Lighten up, get it? Cut back on the fish... lighten up?" He regaled in laughter.
"Shut up!" Both Rae and Chris muttered.
"What?" he grumbled. "It was funny."
Rae just rolled her eyes and stopped at the base of the ladder. With a grunt, Chris pulled himself up slowly. Once he reached the top, Rae quickly crawled up the ladder to help him to a seat.
Spot ushered Ann towards the ladder. "Come on. Up you go too."
"Do I have to, Mr. Spot?" she asked, sending him a pleading look.
He nodded firmly. "Yes you do. Come on now."
Ann pouted, but scampered up the ladder.
Shaking his head, he followed her. "Julie, you can bring Andy up if you're watching him," he said, looking down at them.
"Yes sir," Julie said.
He smiled at her and entered the tree house.
Chris was sitting in the big room; grumbling and complaining about have to be still.
"Well if you didn't run out, you wouldn't be in this predicament, would you?" Spot asked, arching a brow at him.
"I guess not," Chris muttered, "but I don't have to be happy about this."
"Well, you need some suffering for disobeying us," he replied with a smirk.
Chris glared at him, but didn't say anything.
Spot's stomach growled loudly. "Geez, I'm starving..." He glanced at Rae. "A little late for breakfast... but maybe a brunch would do. Let's have it on the beach, what do you say? Julie and Andy could go swimming."
"What about us Mr. Spot?" Ann whined.
"We're in trouble, remember?" Chris snapped.
She pouted again.
"Sounds like a good idea, Spot." Rae said.
"All right then." They moved to pack up their brunch and went to round up Andy and Julie.
"You two behave," Rae ordered as they climbed down the ladder. "No fighting."
"Like I could do anything!" Chris yelled after them.
Rae and Spot looked at one another and bit back laughs.
Once they were gone Ann plopped down on the floor beside him. "This is your fault."
He shrugged. "If you hadn't followed me, you wouldn't be in trouble little missy." Ann grunted and crossed her arms. "You know I'm right kiddo."
She turned and stuck her tongue out at him. He rolled her eyes and stuck his tongue out right back at her.
Ann sighed, "Chris?" she whispered.
"What?"
"I'm tired and hungry."
"Well... I don't know what to do..." Pulling himself to his knees, then to one foot, he hopped unsteadily across the floor. "What do you want to eat? Canned ... meat? Or canned fruit?"
"Fruit please."
He smashed a sharp rock into the tin lid until it poked a hole and, pressing some of the metal away, he gave her a stick-fork and took one for himself. "Eat up."
"Thanks Chris" she whispered, hastily eating the food.
"Eh..." He shrugged. "I was hungry too."
When Ann finished she stood and looked at Chris, "If you're finished I'll take that back to the table for you," she offered.
Taking one last stab at the fruit, he shoved it in his mouth and nodded, handing her the can. "Thanks."
She set the cans on the table and sat back down beside him. "Will you tuck me in for a nap?"
He sighed. "I ain't Spot or Rae."
She gave him a pleading look, and again he sighed.
"Oh... alright... I guess I can." He struggled to his feet again and followed her to her room. She crawled in her bed and he roughly pulled the covers up over her shoulders.
He turned to leave, but she quickly whispered, "You're supposed to sit with me until I fall asleep."
"Ann," he groaned. Seeing the look on her face, he sighed again. "Fine, fine."
He sat down beside her and she looked up at him. "Will you hold my hand?"
"Ain't this enough?"
She shook her head, tears beginning to fill her eyes.
Hastily, Chris grabbed her hand. "Okay, I'm holding your hand. Stop crying already."
She shoved his hand away and rolled away from him, tears rolling down her cheeks. "You don't like me."
He sighed heavily. "It ain't that I don't like you... You just... drive me nuts... is all."
"But you like Andy," she sobbed.
He sighed again, not really knowing what to say.
"You don't have to stay," Ann said, burying her head in her pillow.
"No.. I'll stay."
She rolled over and peered up at him through tear-filled eyes, "You will?"
He nodded. "Yeah... I guess I could. Wouldn't hurt me none, now would it?"
She crawled over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, "Thank you Chris!"
"Hey, hey, you're choking me," he said gruffly, trying not to smile.
She sat back on the bed beside him. "I'm sorry Chris"
"It's okay just... just go to sleep."
She smiled and settled back down under her blankets. She was asleep as soon as her little head hit her pillow.
Leaning his own head back against the wall, Chris sighed again, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
* * *
"Well, the house is still there," Rae said when she, Spot, Julie and Andy returned from the beach.
"Yep," Spot said, shifting the sleeping Andy in his arms. "Let's hope we find the two of them still alive when we get up there."
She nodded. One after another, Spot with Andy over his shoulder, Rae, and Julie climbed up the ladder.
"It's awful quiet," Rae said thoughtfully. "I expected lots of yelling..." When she got to the top she looked first in the boys room and then in the girls room where she stopped in the doorway, a smile on her face.
"What?" Spot inquired, emerging from the boys' bedroom after setting Andy down.
"Come see," she whispered.
He peered over her shoulder. "Well I'll be..." he whispered.
Chris was sitting on the edge of Ann's bed, leaning against the wall sleeping and she was curled up next to him, holding his hand.
"Wish Denton was here to snap a picture," she murmured with a smile, leaning her head against the doorway.
Spot chuckled softly. "Should we wake them?"
"Nah, they had a rough night."
"Besides," she added. "You think I want to wake that up? They're actually getting along. In their sleep, certainly, but it's better than nothing!"
He grinned at her, "Julie can keep an eye on these three, let's go back to the beach, just the two of us."
She took his hand. "Sounds like a plan."
They walked back to the beach, and sat down under the tent, which they had left up, hoping that a passing ship would see it and stop to investigate.
"What do you think about them?" Rae asked.
Spot lifted an eyebrow at her. "Who?"
"Julie and Chris... what are we going to do with them?"
"They said their father was in London," Spot said.
"But do we know for sure that they are telling the truth?" Rae asked.
He shrugged. "Guess... guess we don't... But... Rae, are you suggesting we keep them?"
"I guess I am. I don't know. We have plenty of room."
"Well... you're right on that... if the owners of the house haven't returned yet."
"We can only hope that they haven't."
"Hope real hard."
She rested her head on his shoulder. "What do you think happened to them?"
He shrugged, tilting his head on top of hers. "I don't know. Hopefully nothing bad..."
"Part of me hopes that they never come back."
"Yeah... We lucked out, finding that house. I just hope our luck comes back to let us return."
"I'm sure a boat is bound to come by here soon."
He kissed the top of her head. "Just keep praying for it."
She snuggled closer to him. "What if Chris and Julie get to London and can't find their father?"
"I don't know." He circled his arms around her waist. "I guess we could keep them for a while. Let them write their pop to see if he really IS in London. Then we can decide from there..."
"You mean it?" she asked, looking up at him.
With a nod, he said with a smile, "You'd end up talking me into it anyway."
She leaned up and kissed him.
"I love you Rae Conlon..." He smiled. "And I think my last name suits you better."
"Oh really?" she asked with a smirk.
"Yes, really."
"How so?"
"Because I said so." He grinned impishly.
She poked him in the ribs. "And that's supposed to mean something?"
He chuckled. "Of course. I am Spot Conlon. Everything I say means something."
"Oh you," she said, sounding slightly exasperated.
"Yes, I know. It's ingrained. You ain't ever gonna get rid of it," he teased.
She leaned over and kissed him, "But I can sure try."
He grinned, kissing her back. "I'm sure you can."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, "I love you Conlon."
"I love you more, Conlon." He paused to laugh a bit and then kissed her again.
She giggled. "I never thought anyone would call me that."
"Well you'd better get used to it. Because I'm pretty sure it will happen more often."
"And what if I don't want them to?" she teased.
"Then I'd make sure they did all the more." He wiggled his eyebrows.
"How?" she retorted with a grin.
"Oh, I have my ways," he replied mysteriously.
"Oh?" she asked, leaning toward him.
He nodded, leaning towards her as well. "Yeah."
"I love you Spot."
"Not as much as I love you."
She pulled his head toward hers. "Wanna bet," she whispered and then kissed him before he could respond.
When their kiss broke, he tilted his head to the side. "Eh, I don't think I'm convinced. Let me show you how to REALLY kiss," he teased, and kissed her.
* * *
The next two weeks seemed to fly by. Chris' ankle healed rather quickly, but he was still limping on it some. The whole family was sitting down to lunch enjoying a cool breeze in their open-walled tree house.
"What's the matter Spot?" Rae inquired, watching him pick at his lunch. His face was a little pale, and dark smudges under his eyes made them appear sunken in.
"Just a little tired," he said. He grabbed the tin mug that he and Rae had been sharing and headed toward the bucket full of water. Halfway there he collapsed, dropping heavily to the floor, the mug hitting the boards with a loud clang.
Dropping her stick-fork on the table, Rae leapt to her feet and ran over to his unconscious form. "Spot? Spot!" She sat next to him, shaking him, worried out of her mind. Spot wouldn't just collapse over anything... She placed her hand on his face. "He's burning up! Julie get me some rags. Chris, water, now!"
Without question, they complied. Andy approached her side. "M... Miss Rae... Why... why'd Mr. Spot fall down?" he asked hesitantly.
"I don't know Andy, but stay back!" she ordered, motioning for him back away. Rae lifted Spot's head into her lap and dipped one of the rags into the water. She gently began to wash his face, hoping to wake him up.
With a groan, Spot coughed and opened his eyes, squinting at Rae. "What... happened?"
"You collapsed," she said, brushing his hair from his face. "You are going straight to bed."
"What? No, I'm okay." He struggled to sit up, but Rae firmly pushed him back down and sat on his chest.
"You are not getting up until you agree. You're sick."
He coughed. "Alright."
Standing, she helped pull him up and then led him to bed. "Now you get some sleep," she ordered, kissing his cheek.
"Rae, I'm fine, honest..."
"Don't argue with me, please."
"Only if you sit here with me."
She nodded. "Just one moment, I'm going to help the children clean up. I'll be right back."
He nodded and rolled over as she left the room.
"Everyone... I'm going to stay with Spot for the night... Or at least until he falls asleep. TRY to play quietly together, please," Rae said, gathering the dishes and dumping them into the water, where Chris had situated himself to clean them.
"Yes ma'am," they chirped simultaneously.
Rae gathered the bowl of water and the rag off the floor and carried them into her room with her. She set them on the floor beside the bed and sat down beside Spot.
Slowly, Spot opened his eyes again. "Well," he teased with a weak grin. "That took you long enough."
"Shh!" she said, cradling his face with her hands. "Go to sleep."
"I'm trying. But then I cough and it wakes me up again."
"I'll be right back," she whispered, jumping to her feet and hurrying from the room. She gathered up a few extra blankets and one of the cups before heading back to the room. "Sit up," she said, dropping back to the floor beside him.
Without much protest, he obeyed, sitting up. "What are you doing?"
She folded the blankets and placed them behind his head. "It'll help if you aren't flat on your back."
He leaned back and shifted his shoulders to get comfortable. Taking her hand, he kissed it. "Thank you."
"Your welcome, darling," she said. "If you'll move over a bit, I'll lay next to you for a little while."
He scooted over. "That enough room?"
"Plenty," she said, sitting next to him. "Now try to get some sleep. It will make you feel better."
"Yes ma'am." With a smile, he saluted her limply before closing his eyes.
She waited until he was sleeping before moving. She stood and walked back out into the main room, and sank wearily into a chair.
Ann crawled over to Rae. "Miss Rae, what's wrong with Mr. Spot?"
Rae pulled the girl into her lap. "I don't know sweetheart. But we'll just let him get lots of rest and hope he gets better soon."
She nods a little. "I wish we were back home," she whimpered, tucking her head under Rae's chin.
"I know Ann," Rae said, brushing a stray lock of hair from Ann's face. She gasped and turned Ann to face her. "Ann, do you feel sick?"
She looked at her worriedly. "Me? No... I... I don't know... no..."
"You feel warm. Maybe it would be a good idea if you go take a nap too. Don't want you getting sick too."
She whimpered. "I don't wanna take a nap..."
"Please, sweetheart," Rae said, kissing the little girl's forehead.
"Nooooo," she whined, kicking her feet out in all directions.
Rae picked up the screaming girl and carried her into the girls' room and set her down hard on the pallet on the floor.
"I don't wanna go to bed! I don't wanna go to bed!"
"Ann, whether or not you want to, you are going to. And what did I tell you about keeping it quiet so Spot could sleep?" she scolded.
Ann quieted, "Are you gonna 'pank me?" she asked quietly.
"I'm tempted too," Rae said sending her a look.
Whimpering, she pulled her blanket over her head and held it tight, but she was otherwise silent.
Rae sat down beside her and pulled the little girl into her lap. "I'm not going to this time Ann, but if you argue with me again, I will. No more warnings, little miss."
Sniffling, she rubbed her nose and nodded.
"Now be a good girl and take a nap for me, alright?"
She nodded again and crawled onto her bed.
Rae kissed her forehead and tucked her in, before going back to check on Spot. When she entered the room, he sat up suddenly; his body overcome with deep, hacking coughs. Rushing over to him, she gave him firm pats on the back. "Oh Spot..." She chewed her lip worriedly. To tell him about Ann, or not to tell, that was the question. 'If I tell him, he'll want to help out... If I don't... well... he didn't tell me about that snake... but...' She reached for the cup of water and handed it to him, rubbing his back as he drank. "Spot," she said hesitantly.
He held up his hand for her to wait as he drank the water to the very last drop. Gasping deeply, he looked at her, wobbled a bit, and then said, "Yes?"
"I think Ann is sick too," she said, helping him lean back against the blanket pillows that she had created.
"Why don't you bring her in here? We can be miserable together."
"Are you sure? She threw a pretty bad tantrum when I tried to get her to sleep."
He nodded weakly. "Go get her."
"Alright." She kissed his warm forehead and then went to gather Ann. "Come on, sweetheart," she murmured as the girl whimpered. "Spot says you can stay with him for a while."
Rae was surprised when Ann did nothing but rest her warm head on Rae's shoulder. Ann didn't move or make a sound, beyond a slight whimper when Rae set her down next to Spot, who was sleeping again. Rae began to bathe the little girl's face and hummed a lullaby, until the girl finally fell into a fevered sleep.
She stayed there for a few more minutes, worriedly watching the both of them. Two sick at once. What more did she need?
Her head felt heavy. Sleep. Sleep would be wonderful right now. She curled up next to Ann and promptly fell asleep.
~*~
The next morning, Rae awoke to silence. And she absolutely hated it. It seemed to intensify her increasing headache. With a deep frown, she staggered stiffly to her feet and went to wake up the others.
"Time to get up, Julie," she said, sticking her head in the girls' room, wincing with each word.
Julie stirred and opened her eyes. "Morning," she replied sleepily, but with a sunny smile.
Rae nodded and walked to the boys' room. "Get up, boys." There were a few groans but the two boys were up and in the 'kitchen' within a few minutes.
Chris came up behind her while she was trying to prepare breakfast. "You look rough, Rae, why don't you go rest for a little bit longer," he suggested.
"I'm fine," she insisted firmly. "I have two sick patients to take care of. I'll be okay."
"They're both sleeping. Go sleep while they are."
"Thank you, but I said I'm fine."
"Go to sleep, Miss Rae," Andy insisted.
She looked at him, startled.
Julie nodded. "I can make them breakfast. It will be fine."
Before she could protest, Andy took her hand and began to pull her toward the room, while Chris pushed her from behind. She laughed tiredly, and sank into bed. "You'll hear one from me when I get back up," she muttered, snuggling back beneath the blanket.
Chris looked at Andy, "Why don't you go make all the beds while I help Julie with breakfast?"
Andy looked like he was going to protest, but decided against it, going off and doing what he was told.
Chris limped over to Julie, "Miss Rae is sick too. We need to keep her in bed. And keep Andy as far away from them as possible."
"I don't know how we're going to do that... keep her in bed, that is... Sometimes she can be more stubborn than Mr. Spot."
"We are gonna have to think of something. If you can handle things here, then I'll take Andy for a walk after breakfast. To get rid of some of his energy and to let them have some rest."
She nodded. "Just don't go super far." She sighed. "Goodness knows what they'll do once they're better if they find out you did."
"We'll stick to the beach, little sister," he said, hugging her.
With a smile, she hugged her brother back. "I'll probably have something ready for lunch when you get back."
"You are wonderful," he said, "I'll set the table."
She grinned. "It's about time you realized that."
He ruffled her hair and moved to set the table. After breakfast, and a quick check on the three sick people, Chris and Andy headed out for a walk along the beach, leaving Julie to man the fort.
And man the fort she did. She cleaned the dishes and straightened up what little mess there was to be had, tended to Ann when she woke up, crying and thirsty... By the time she had finished fixing the light lunch, she plopped onto the floor against the entryway and breathed a sigh of relief. A moment of peace! Then she heard Spot coughing. She climbed back to her feet and made her way back into the room where the three sick people lay. Dipping up a cup of water, she handed it to Spot.
"Thanks," he croaked, guzzling it down. "You're doing a wonderful job, Julie."
"Your welcome, Mr. Spot," she said, "Get some more sleep."
He gave her a smile before dropping his head onto his pillow and falling asleep again.
Julie moved around to the other side of the bed to check on Rae. Still sleeping, but with a slight fever. Frowning Julie went back into the main room to wait on Chris and Andy.
She tapped her fingers on the floor nervously, as she sat. She didn't know anything about doctoring folks... she couldn't even guess what was wrong... And what if something bad... No... She shook her head. 'Not gonna think like that. Think good thoughts. Good thoughts.'
Chris and Andy soon returned and ate their lunch, Andy's head nearly falling into his plate several times. Chris stood and threw Andy over his shoulder. "Come on, little man, I think you need a nap."
Andy yelped. "But I don't..." He yawned "wanna..." He yawned again "take a nap."
"I'm gonna take a nap, so you can take a nap, little man!"
He murmured more protests, but he didn't struggle much because he was already falling asleep, worn out from his fun and games with Chris.
Chris lay down to take a nap, but found that he couldn't sleep. He got up and walked back into the main room with his sister.
"Thought you were napping?"
"Worried about you, sis," Chris said sitting beside her.
She looked at him curiously. "How come?"
"Are you gonna be able to take care of Spot, Rae and Ann, while I keep Andy occupied?"
She nodded. "I'll try my best anyway..."
"You let me know if you don't think you can handle it."
She nodded. "I will. You worry too much."
Just then Ann woke up and began crying. Chris pulled himself to his feet, "I'll get her."
Walking into the room, he sat on the edge of the bed and put his arms around Ann. "What's the matter, Miss Ann?"
"My head hurts and my throat burns," she whined, resting her head weakly on his shoulder.
"Would you like something to drink?"
She nodded weakly. He dipped up a cup of water and helped the weak little girl drink it. Then he gently pushed her back and tucked her in. "Try to go to sleep again, all right?"
"Chris?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm tired of laying in this bed, will you hold me?"
"I uh... well I... Sure." Why deny a sick little girl her wish?
Ann crawled out of the bed and into his arms and was instantly asleep again.
He frowned a bit. Was he supposed to stay there and hold her until she awoke again? She shivered and snuggled deeper into his arms. He pulled the blanket off the bed and wrapped it around her, before leaning up against the wall and closing his eyes.
Julie heard not a peep. Poking her head into the room, she smiled, seeing her brother holding Ann. He had really softened up in this journey. She couldn't recall a time when he'd been as pleasant to her as he had been that day.
That night Julie sat up with the sick people. Rae would wake up, drink some water and go right back to sleep. Spot's cough was slow getting worse. And Ann woke up at random intervals, whimpering and crying and all sorts of other actions of discomfort that Julie and occasionally Chris would take turns attending to. But mostly, he was out keeping Andy occupied so HE didn't get sick as well.
Julie sighed tiredly, leaning against the wall. How much longer would this go on? Would someone else soon get sick? Would Spot, or Rae, or even little Ann.....No she wasn't going to think like that. That wasn't going to happen! She sighed. Who was she kidding? They had no clue where they were and there were no doctors or medicine around. And one girl and two boys to take care of them... well, that wasn't much to go with.
Standing, she pushed her fingers through her long, tangled hair, and peeked in the 'sickroom'. For once, all three patients seemed to be sleeping somewhat peacefully. Rae was tossing and turning a bit, and occasionally Spot coughed, and Ann flopped around worse than Rae, but... at least they were sleeping.
Three days passed. The sick ones getting no better, but no worse. Julie cared for them by day, while Chris kept Andy busy on the beach, and Chris sat up with them at night, insisting that Julie get some sleep.
"But you need sleep too," she insisted as he pushed her to her room. "You've been out all day playing with Andy and stuff."
"I'll take a nap when he does."
She looked at him uncertainly. "You sure?"
"Positive," he said, kissing her forehead, "You just get some rest so that you don't get sick too."
After thinking long and hard, she nodded. "All right. But wake me if something changes with them."
"I will, just go sleep!"
She made a face and went into her room.
When he went back into the sick room Ann woke with a whimper. He picked her up and helped her drink some water and then paced the floor while rubbing her small back.
Her arms clenched around his neck as he paced. "I'm gonna fall!" she shrilled suddenly, tightening her arms around him, even though she was nowhere near falling.
"Shh...It's alright Ann," he whispered, tightening his hold on her. "I'm not gonna let you fall."
She nodded slowly but didn't loosen her hold.
He hummed a lullaby that he remembered his mother singing to him as he continued pacing and rubbing her back. She soon fell asleep and he placed her back on the bed, just as Rae woke up.
"Thirsty?" he inquired.
"A little," she said, dropping her head into her hands.
"I'll get you something to drink."
"Thanks," she whispered.
He shrugged. "Ain't a problem." He left the room for a moment, and when he returned, handed her a cup of water. She quickly drained it.
"How's your head?" he whispered.
"Not as bad as it has been, but it still hurts pretty bad."
"Would you like something to eat? We have a little fish leftover from dinner."
"Sure, but I want to get out of this bed to eat it."
"You sure?" he asked uncertainly.
She nodded, and weakly stood.
"Need help?" he asked, heading to her side.
"That would be nice."
He took her arm and helped her into the little 'kitchenette' and then served her a small plate of fish.
"Thanks for all your help, Chris. I don't see how we would have made it without you and Julie."
"It's mostly Julie. I just keep watch when she's asleep... and I take Andy out.. It's no problem. SOMEBODY has to take care of things while you guys are sick."
"If we ever get off this island, Spot and I want the two of you to come live with us until you find your father."
He stared at her in disbelief. "With you... and ... Spot?" Quickly, he shook his head, as if to clear it. "How come?"
"Julie told me that you two didn't know for sure that your father was in London. We figured it would be better for you to come stay with us and write to him and see if you can get in touch with him."
He frowned. "Yeah... I guess that's okay."
"You don't have to if you don't want to. It's just that Spot and I...we both know what it's like to be without a family, and be forced to live on the streets. We...I would hate to see that happen to you and Julie."
He nodded. "Well... it's just we've never had people just up and ask us something like that... I'll have to talk with Julie."
"I understand," she said with a slight smile. "How long have I been out?" she asked.
"Three or four days," he answered
Rae blanched. "How have you poor children survived-"
"Julie has us covered. I've learned she's useful in such a pinch." He smiled.
"Chris, I'm so sorry about all of this."
He shrugged. "It's okay. Ain't like any of you could've predicted it. Just eat and get better soon."
She laughed slightly, "Who put you in charge, mister?"
He grinned. "Julie, 'til she wakes up again."
"And just who put Nurse Julie in charge?"
"Um... I think she put herself in charge."
Rae smiled, "Was she like that before?"
"Uh..." He paused thoughtfully. "I don't know, honestly.
"But she's your sister..."
"I never really paid attention to her." Chris said, hanging his head.
She gave him a reprimanding look. "That's awful."
"I know," he whispered, "I used to think she was annoying and not good for anything."
"No wonder the two of you fought like cats and dogs. Is that how you think about all women?"
"I didn't think about my mother that way! But all the other women in my life have been like that, including my aunt."
"Well, you'd better not think of me like that!" She gave him a firm, but tired look.
"Of course not," he protested.
"You'd better not... I want to go back to bed..."
"Need any help?"
After a long pause, she finally nodded. "Probably." She held her arm out to him. He stood and helped her back into the sick room.
"Sleep well."
"Good night Chris," she said, crawling back under the blankets. "Oh, and Chris?"
"Uh... what?"
"Not all women are that way. Give your sister a chance, she really does love you."
He sighed but nodded. "Night."
Just as she drifted off to sleep, Spot woke up coughing. Chris was at his side in an instant. He had never heard it this bad before.
"You okay, Mr. Spot?" He handed him a second glass of water that he had brought with him.
Spot weakly shook his head and took the glass of water, quickly draining it.
He frowned, wondering if he should wake Julie or not. She said she wanted to be woken if something changed... but he didn't know what change she wanted to hear about.
"I'm not sure I can take much more of this," Spot said, dropping back against his pillow.
"I'm not sure any of us can."