Chapter 4
"Sidney you need to stay awake" Tom said urgently. "Focus on me" he commanded.
Sidney's breathing was slowing and his eyes started closing it.
"Come on brother" Tom said as he stroked his cheek with his thumb, "don't close your eyes, we'll be home soon".
Cursing, Tom scooped him up into his arms, rushing for the horse to take them home.
As they were arriving to Sanditon, Lord Babington separated from Tom to search for the doctor as Tom rode directly home.
"Anyone, help!" Tom yelled as he slammed through the front door. Sidney was slipping in and out of consciousness, dazed and confused with all the flurry around him.
Charlotte and Mary went downstairs.
"I-I need help" croaked Tom as he laid Sidney careful on the floor next to the fireplace.
Mary was frozen unable to say or do anything scared seeing his brother-in-law so vulnerable. But Charlotte took a step forward. "We need to remove all his wet clothes" said with determination. She turned around, "Mary please can you get us some clothes to change him". Mary nodded and left the room.
Sidney felt hands holding him. His breath coming out in strangled gasps made it hurt to breathe.
"I know it hurts, it'll be over soon," Charlotte whispered as she was taking all the damp clothes off him and dumping them aside
When he heard her voice, he opened his eyes and saw her there. He wanted to say something but he felt so tired. He gripped on her hand and mumbled something but Charlotte was unable to understand what he said. Afterwards Charlotte felt he was easing so she pressed his hand harder to keep his attention. "You need to hang in there" she said urgently, the panic slipping into her voice. He was so cold.
Sluggishly, he pulled his eyes open, dragging them to look up at her again as Tom began to dress him again with the clothes Mary brought.
Once he was completely dressed, Tom carried him straight to the upstairs bedroom and set him down on the bedspread. He could feel Sidney was burning. "Hang on Sidney, the doctor will be here in a minute". Sidney rolled his head to face Tom, his breathing still shaky.
"The doctor is here" announced Mary who came to Tom's side, bracing his shoulders and pulling him away, "we need to let him do his job Tom." He let himself be pulled away.
Meanwhile, Charlotte was downright agitated, pacing back and forth in the Parkers' sitting room. There was nothing else left for her to do but wait. Lord Babington was waiting on the sitting room too, feeling anxious about his friend.
