Hey Everyone, Happy Thanksgiving! Or not if you are not American.
Helena woke up barely a few hours after she had gone to sleep. She groaned and stretched. Her joints popped. "I'm too young to feel old," Helena said to herself climbing out of the nest she had made on the floor. 'Helena is older in this world' a voice whispered in her head. "Yeah yeah, not that much older though. Like four years or something, I ain't doin' the math." Helena said, switching to a southern accent for no particular reason.
Helena moved over to the window trying to discern how long she had slept. "Maybe four hours…" she mused to herself. "That's pretty good. I better check on Amy…" Helena headed next door to Amy's room and poked her head inside. Amy's steady heartbeat filled Helena's ears as she walked over to the bed. Amy's breath came out in quiet puffs, subtle proof of a stuffy nose. Helena moved closer to the bed to check on Amy's fever. Her head was still burning. Helena found that her mind had been too tired to truly grasp the danger Amy could be in right now. They were in a medieval world right now, which meant no medicine. And their bodies were not used to fighting off the illnesses of this time. Well, that might not be true. Helena thought. They did not technically have their bodies. Sure, they looked like themselves, but Helena knew she was not in her real body. None of the scars she had acquired before coming here were anywhere on her body. It seemed that any physical injury she had before was now gone. The burn scars on her wrist, the thin white scar on her right hand, even the leftover scarring from when she had surgery to fix her hearing. All gone. The pain in her ears was gone too. Of course, loud noises still hurt because of her enhanced wolf senses, but that was different.
Helena was willing to bet that Amy was the same. Which also meant Amy was in significantly less danger of dying from whatever kind of sickness she had. Helena knew a lot of things, but knowing how to tell medieval illnesses apart was not one of them.
Helena knew the sooner she got to work the safer Amy would be, so she headed out the door, through the hall, and down the stairs. She needed a basin of water and she doubted there was any already in the castle. Helena would have to draw some from the well.
Fifteen minutes later saw Helena with a basin of cool water and some strips of cloth. Without knowing the castle layout and where to look Helena had just ripped up one of Rumple's shirts. He would not need it anyway.
She entered Amy's bed chambers and set her supplies on a table by the bed. Helena reached over to feel Amy's forehead again, normally she would have checked for a pulse too, but she could hear Amy's heart rate clear as day. Grabbing a piece of cloth Helena dampened it and placed it on Amy's head. Cooling her head down was the first step, moving the fever to a different, less damageable part of her body was the next. Helena kept telling herself it was basic science as she worked. She did a lot of moving around and trying to find things she needed in the castle as the day went on. It was wholly unfair Amy got magic and she did not. She could have just poofed the things she needed into existence. Life would be so much easier.
While looking in the library for some books on the medicine of this age, and mentally cursing herself for not having already read such books, Helena found several of the books in Rumple's extensive library happened to be in different languages. A large amount in French and even some in Latin and while Helena could not speak or read either language she could at least recognize them. She made a mental note to learn both languages while she was here. After all, it's what she always did with her free time. Finally finding a book about medical stuff in English she turned to head out of the library somehow managing to kick the leg of one of the couches while she was at it.
When normal humans kicked the leg of a couch they hurt their toe and the couch does not even move. When a wolf kicks the leg of a couch, apparently, the couch moves two feet sideways as if it has been shoved and the wolf still hurts their toe.
It did not hurt much but Helena still stopped to glare at the couch. When she did, however, she noticed a strange cuff that now lay on the floor. It had probably been under the couch. Helena bent to pick it up and rolled it over in her hands. It looks familiar…
Shrugging it off for now Helena placed the cuff in the small leather bag on her belt before carrying on with her day.
Helena stayed in Amy's chambers that night. She moved a large couch, from the library, into the room to lay on, minor super strength was helpful like that and collected a few books to keep herself occupied. She knew she would not sleep much if at all. Normally, she would wander Snow and Charming's castle when she did not sleep, but she wanted to stay in Amy's chambers as much as possible. It was not that Helena was particularly worried about Amy's health, she knew if there was a change in Amy's heart rate or breathing pattern she would be able to hear it from her room, but on the off chance Amy woke up with a still fever addled mind Helena wanted to be there as soon as possible to keep Amy from doing any more damage to herself with her magic. Helena needed to find a way to prevent Amy from using it.
Oh…
Helena scrambled for the cuff she had left in her bag. Pulling it out, she glanced over the accessory again. It was Pan's cuff! That is why it had look familiar. Helena looked over to where Amy was sleeping. If Helena puts the cuff on her Amy's magic will go away… 'It would solve Helena's problem.' True, but what would it do to Amy?
"-ach?! Helena?! Mrs. Potts?" Helena heard Amy yell, then sigh in utter despair, "Crap! Even Dylan? Anyone? Actually… AH! No… not Dylan… definitely not Dylan. Zach? Please!"
Helena moved to glance at her watch before remembering she did not have one anymore. Dang it! "She's been out for a while…" Helena mused aloud.
How does anyone sleep that long? Even with a fever? Helena turned away from her food and headed out of the kitchen door. Amy had stopped yelling but now that Helena was paying attention she could follow the sounds Amy was making. In this case, the heavy, almost panicked breaths she was taking in. She found Amy curled up near the window seat Helena had originally seen Pan in when she had arrived. Amy looked like she had crumpled to the ground and simply scooted back till she hit the wall. Helena winced at the sight. She had known taking away the illusions would affect Amy horribly, but still, seeing it hurt a little. She could also hear Amy chanting names to herself. Mostly Helena's name with a few 'Zachs' thrown in here and there.
Unable to watch anymore, Helena knelt in front of the trembling girl. "Amy-" Helena started but did not make it any farther. Amy tackled her the moment Helena spoke and to Helena's horror burst into sobs. Helena had a solid 30 seconds where she had no clue what to do, before wrapping her arms around Amy.
Helena had read many books with crying females in them and in this moment felt a lot like the typical guy who had no idea what to do with said crying female. In those books, the guy usually, somehow, figured out the problem and got the female to stop crying. Helena was pretty sure none of those book solutions would work at this moment. So, Helena proceeded to internally panic about what to do till Amy's grip loosened. She pulled out of the hug, steadying her breathing she spoke, "Where? Where is everyone?"
"You were sick so I had them all leave for a little while. I wanted you to get some proper rest." Helena said calmly. Always glad for her ability to think fast.
Amy nodded, wiping her remaining tears from her eyes, "And… uh… where's Zach?"
Helena frowned, confused. "He left with everyone else."
Amy looked at her oddly until something clicked, "Oh… no sorry… my brain… Not human Zach, griffin Zach. Or did they take him too?"
"Uh, yeah…um…they took him too." Helena decided to ignore the fact Amy had named a griffin after her love interest. At least for now.
"Oh… I guess I'll snuggle with him when he gets back… or something…" She trailed off in thought, then hesitated, "Um.. do you want to do something then?"
Helena's brow furrowed as she reached to feel Amy's forehead to see if she was still running a fever. "Hmm, you're still warm, though I can't tell if you're still running a fever. I wish I had a thermometer." Helena said, talking more to herself than to Amy.
Making a decision she stood up, "Come on, you are going to eat something before we decide on anything else to do."
"But, I'm not really hungry. How about we go to the library or something? I can eat later." Amy whined.
"No," Helena said firmly, "You are going to eat something first. I have no way of knowing when the last time you ate was. Are you still having any stomach issues with food?"
"What? Why would that have changed?" Amy asked, obviously not going to give Helena a helpful answer.
Helena sighed. Of course, why would she give a straight answer? "Nevermind," She said, "Come on." Helena pulled Amy back toward the kitchen. Amy resisted for the first five minutes, then eventually caved and walked herself. Helena had to hide a triumphant smile.
"Come on! I'm twenty-eight years old! I think I can decide for myself when I want to go to bed!" Amy sat defiantly curled up in her chair.
Helena was about to shoot back something about Amy not taking care of herself properly but then the age Amy stated herself to be caught up with Helena's brain and she stopped. Twenty-eight? What?!
By the look that must have been showing on Helena's face, Amy took her victory, "Ha! I win. Go bug Dylan and tell him to go to bed then. He can be the child for the next day, thank you!"
Helena blinked. Where is all this coming from? Helena has a lot of catching up to do. "Okay, first of all, no. Second…actually i don't have a second point, but you need to go to bed. You're getting over a fever still, kid!"
"Ugh! Fine. But can I just sleep here? I don't want to move."
"Do you have any idea how bad for you it is to sleep on a couch?" Helena asked.
"You do realize, I've slept on the couch when I can't sleep right? And it's not like I'm pregnant anymore. It's fine. I'm not that old."
Helena tried to think of a way to get Amy to her bed. She could carry Amy, she was strong enough for sure, but something told her that would not go over well. Maybe…
"What if I got you a puppy?"
"A PUPPY! Like a lab? Or a retriever? Or a husky? Or more like Nut? A pug or something?" Amy's eyes lit up and she stood up excitedly, then paused, "Wait… are you serious? Or is this a trick just to get me to bed?"
"As right as you are to suspect me of such trickery, this is no joke. I will get you a puppy to sleep with if you go to bed. As for what type I have no idea. You know I don't know dog breeds." Helena said, moving to the door. If her plan worked she would have to leave the room before Amy so she could shift without Amy seeing her.
"Ok." Amy dashed past Helena, out of the library, and into her room leaving the door ajar behind her.
Helena barely got the chance to yell "Good night!" after the disappearing girl. She sighed once Amy was gone. "Why did you offer yourself up as a puppy, Helena? You know you have to act like a dog now, right? Yeah, I know." Helena grumbled aloud before shifting and heading to follow in Amy's wake.
Helena entered the room and found Amy sitting, bundled comfortably under her blankets. Her arms flew out of the covers and patted the bed urging the 'dog', "Hey, big girl, come on! Up on the bed." She spoke in a high voice used only for small children, and apparently dogs, "Come on, baby!"
Helena has no dignity left apparently. Helena trotted over to Amy's bed and jumped onto it. Settling into the space Amy indicated with her hand. Amy petted the back of her neck and kissed her head, "Goodnight, Sirius." She kept petting her until her hand went limp and she rolled over entering a peaceful and deep sleep.
Helena had to keep chanting 'deal with it' over and over in her head untill Amy fell asleep.
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