Col. Tavington walked over to his desk and sat down, heaving a heavy sigh and placing his head in his hands.
"What is it William?" asked Mary, coming to stand beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I don't know what to do, Mary." he replied quietly. "It's as if I'm watching my own child go through this, and there's nothing I can do about it. I may be able to do some things, but on the whole, you and I both know that this thing has to run its course."
"I know, William, but she is strong..."
"But she hasn't been eating well, Mary, and if she continues to do so, or is unable to keep her food down.."
"William..."
"He already had to do bloodletting on her!" Col. Tavington cried suddenly, his voice beginning to rise in panic.
"William, please! Keep your voice down! You don't want to wake her." said Mary sternly, her eyes narrowing.
Col. Tavington glowered at his wife.
"Love, I know you're upset, very upset, and so am I. But let's just see how things turn out." said Mary softly, moving to stand before her husband.
"Alright.." he replied in a soft, choked voice.
Mary wrapped her arms around her husband, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Just give time a chance, William.."
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Nearly two days passed. Jae lay in the Tavingtons' bed, still shivering with fever. Both the Col. Tavington and Lady Tavington had tried to get her to eat, but she refused because of her lack of appetite , and when they finally did get her to eat, she threw it up.
"I can't take this anymore!" said Col. Tavington in an exhausted tone to his wife after cleaning things up from Jae's mess. "She's not gotten any better. In fact, if anything, she's gotten worse."
Mary closed her eyes, nodding slowly in agreement.
"Where is Jula?" the colonel asked suddenly.
"She's with Braden and Capt. Bordon in the gardens." Mary replied. "Why do you ask?"
"I don't know. I just need to know that I have control over something."
Mary sighed.
"William, you know you have control over more than just something. You're just stressed."
"Exactly. I don't like at all what is happening."
"Yes, I know. Why don't you go fetch the doctor? I know that he's supposed to arrive later today to check on Jae, but it wouldn't hurt to have him here earlier."
"Perhaps.."
"Go on, William."
"Very well."
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Fifteen minutes later, Col. Tavington arrived back in his quarters with Dr. O'Brien as both Mary and Jula greeted them with anxious faces. Dr. O'Brien walked over to where Jae lay, his brow creased with concern.
"She's eaten nothing?" he asked.
"Nothing that she's kept down." Col. Tavington replied.
Dr. O'Brien pursed his lips and felt Jae's forehead.
"Good lord, she's burning!"
Jula gave Mary a worried look.
"Is there anything that can bring it down?" she asked the doctor in a small voice.
"We're going to have to do it again." replied Dr. O'Brien with a sigh.
"Do what?" Jula asked.
"Bloodletting."
"No! You can't! It's not good for her! It's not good for anyone!" Jula cried suddenly. "Well, it can work, but not very well, it does more harm than good.."
"How do you know this?" Dr. O'Brien asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Col. Tavington glared severely at Jula, but took note of her futuristic knowledge and covered, "Perhaps she's right. Maybe we shouldn't do any bloodletting."
"Colonel, you're trusting a young girl?"
"Look," said Jula beginning to get annoyed, "I think I know of something that can help her. I can't explain what it is, but let me try to find it. If not, then you can do the bloodletting."
Dr. O'Brien was about to protest when Col. Tavington stopped him with a harsh glare.
"Alright Jula, go on then and see if you can find what you need."
"Thank you sir." replied Jula with a hopeful smile and dashed out of the room, heading to Jae's quarters and grabbing her sister's bag..
Jae, I hope you still have aspirin in here...
Jula dug through the bag, pulling everything out.
"Books, more books, binder, homework from Ms. Smithson's class... tampons?" Jula rolled her eyes and continued rummaging through the bag. "Astronomy notes, Spanish notes, a note from her friend Liz, a pic of her and her friend Sarah... Hey, that's my chapstick! Oh well; iPod nano... Yes! Found the aspirin bottle!"