Legal Disclaimer: I own my stuff, but not the original source material. That belongs to whoever. Also, the opinions and interpretations I use here may not reflect the same in said whoever that owns the source material. Look, I'm just a poor college librarian. Suing me isn't going to get you anything but tears.

Warning: This work may be offensive to some readers. There is also acute medical crisis. Feel free to back out if need be.

Author's Note: Please note that Remy did nothing wrong and I am in no way trying to get y'all mad at her. I'm very sorry, Aya, but your girl is the unlucky duck who drew the short straw.

Submitting Info:
Stacked with: Hogwarts (Term 16); MC4A (Year 5)
Individual Challenges: Red Lights; Ginger; Red Bull; Medic MC; Neurodivergent; Rian-Russo Inversion [x2]; Ethnic & Present; Small Fry; Claimed; Hold the Mayo; Zed Era; Old Shoes (Y); New Fandom Smell; In a Flash; The Real MC (Y); Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); Green Ribbon
House: Slytherin
Assignment No.: Term 16 – Assignment 08
Subject (Task No.): n/a
Other Hogwarts Challenges: 365 [190](Radiate); 1000 Prompts Challenge [228](Panic); Hogwarts Gardens [Seating 24](Emerald)
Other MC4A Challenges: SpB [2C](Change); TrB [3C](Break the X); Chim [Reta] ("The Anonymous Ones" - Dear Evan Hanson; Hospital/Medical Ward)
Representation(s): Desi & Autistic Harry Potter; Remy "Thirteen" Hadley; Family Impact; Chim Song Prompt
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Found Family; Nontraditional; Sneeze Weasel; Machismo; Peddling Pots; Second Verse (Ladylike; Not a Lamp; Persistence Still); Chorus (Pear-Shaped; Wabi Sabi)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: Once (Cabaret; Santa Fe); T3 (Terse; Tether); SN (Rail; Ameliorate)
Word Count: 498 words

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House & Homes
Aches
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Remy had barely switched back to reviewing the results Kutner had sent her when she glanced at the monitor reading the kid's vitals. She closed her phone and immediately moved closer. The kid pulled the hand he was using to hold his jello to the center of his thin chest while also looking like he was bracing for a hit. She chose to focus on the slight change in the kid's blood pressure instead of the sting that accompanied the gesture.

"Do you hurt anywhere?" she asked, hoping that the kid would be willing to answer even if it wasn't verbally. Quicker than he usually responded, the kid shook his head. Remy eyed him as she tried to determine how much she could trust that answer. He looked a bit better than he had before the unit and a half that they had managed, but there was also a slight sheen across his forehead. His emerald eyes darted towards the door again.

Without thinking, Remy reached out to touch his shoulder. The kid curled immediately into a tight ball, both hands suddenly over his head. His forearms were braced tightly over his ears and the corner of his eyes. His breathing turned fast and harsh—and tight sounding. Even through the thick material of his oversized sweater, she could feel the warmth radiating off him.

Like checking off items on a list, she moved her hand from his shoulder to slide her fingers against his exposed neck. Despite the heat coming off him, his neck was clammy. His pulse beat against her fingertips like the wings of a baby bird.

She yanked her hands back to switch out what was flowing through the kid's IV. Luckily, she had already hung a regular saline bag on the tree. The saline cleared the line quickly. She took in the kid's protective stance and fast breathing as she debated the next steps. He needed a course of diuretics, possibly dopamine. Someone would need to start the trace back on what had caused the reaction—especially since she had double checked the blood types on both units of blood and a fresh sample from the kid. All three were definitely O-negative.

Which just meant that there was something else causing the transfusion reaction.

They didn't have a good understanding of his underlying condition. It wasn't like he could have told him much even if he had been verbal. The kid was simply too young. There was no way he would know much of anything. The only person who seemed to communicate successfully with him was House.

Resolute, she sent an emergency page to him. Unable to do more until help arrived, Remy settled on the bed next to the kid. She carefully placed her hand on his back, between the sharp bones of his shoulders. She didn't rub at the tense muscles, just held her hand there with gentle pressure.

And softly, she began to sing like her mother used to do.

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To Be Continued
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