A/N Short interlude.
It was ten minutes after six. Winnifred walked into her room and thrust the portfolio onto her bed.
"Are you ready?"
Margaret lifted her bruised eyes onto her, a blouse trembling in her hands.
"Almost." Winnifred helped her cousin get dressed, buttoning the blouse for her, then escorted her downstairs. It wasn't far to the hospital, but Winnifred still feared that it would drain Margaret of the little strength she had. Holding her cousin by the elbow, cursing her town for the impracticality and the lack of cars and taxis, Winnifred guided Margaret to the hospital. And of course, it was full today. Winnifred glanced around her in irritation, then lowered Margaret into one open chair.
"Sit here, I'm going to go and fight with the receptionist," she quietly ordered her. Her cousin just nodded, to tired to say anything. Sighing, Winnifred straightened her back and walked over to the desk.
"Good day, I have an appointment with Dr. Collin for Margaret Houston," she quickly stated, impatiently tapping her fingers. The blonde girl lazily looked through her book.
"What time?"
"Right now, at six twenty."
"Wait a moment, please." Winnifred sucked her cheeks in displeasure, but walked away.
"Waiting," she crossed her arms on her chest, glancing up and down at Margaret in worry.
"How are you, dear?"
"Okay I guess." Margaret wearily rubbed her face with her hand. The man next to her was called. Winnifred watched him leave then took his seat with a sigh. Ten minutes passed. Winnifred touched Margaret's forehead with the back of her cold hand, sucking in the feverish heat. Winnifred nervously swallowed and lowered her hand.
"Houston, Margaret!"
"C'mon, it's us," Winnifred helped Margaret get up by the elbow and led her up to the young intern waiting them.
"Margaret Houston, is it not? Hello, I am Richard, I will be helping you for the day," Richard enthusiastically chattered. Margaret forced a strained smile. Winnifred didn't bother. Mumbling some sort of "hello", she led Margaret after the intern, who happily rattled all way long. Winnifred glanced around. The corridors were bleak and weary, with benches and their sick clients on the sides. The intern stopped in front of a door, quickly knocking and shoving his head inside. A moment later, he appeared back again.
"I am sorry, but the doctor has another patient right now," Richard apologized, turning to the ladies.
"Please wait here at the benches." Margaret sat down with a sigh. Winnifred sucked in the air with her nose in irritation and sat down as well. People in white coats darted back and forth the hallways. Winnifred sighed and leaned against the wall.
"How are you feeling?" She quietly inquired, tilting her head towards her cousin.
"Freezing," Margaret quietly responded, clasping her fingers in a numb, white knot. Winnifred immediately sprang onto her feet, pulling the jacket off Margaret.
"Take it off and tie your hair so the neck wouldn't heat up...damn them," Winnifred gritted through her teeth, glancing at the door. Margaret unconsciously writhed in her seat, overtaken by the fever. Winnifred tensely looked around. Shit, they were alone. Following her impulse, Winnifred knocked on the door and flung it open.
"Excuse me, but do you have anything antipyretic? My cousin next to me has a fever."
The doctor and the current client, which looked perfectly fine for Winnifred, stared at her in surprise. Winnifred didn't notice another man behind them until Collins didn't quietly gesture him.
"Johnathan, please attend the lady outside." Johnathan quickly grabbed something from the shelf and walked outside with Winnifred, who was too concerned to be surprised.
"What happened?" Johnathan quietly inquired, closing the door behind him.
"Margaret has a fever," Winnifred quickly explained, watching how the intern lowers down on his knees in front of her cousin. Shaking the thermometer in one hand, feeling Margaret's forehead with the other, Johnathan creased his eyebrows. Winnifred noticed in worry how his eyes darken.
"Under your armpit," Johnathan shortly instructed. Margaret obediently took the thermometer and, quickly undoing the first three buttons on her blouse, clasped the tool inside.
"I'll be back in ten minutes," The intern told Winnifred. She nodded. Following him with her eyes, Winnifred placed her hand on Margaret's clenched fist.
"Everything will be okay," she quietly said, not looking at her cousin. Margaret didn't answer.
Johnathan came back after eight minutes, another man with him. Winnifred cautiously eyed the second one. Johnathan had a glass of water and a bottle of pills in his hands.
"Hold this," Winifred received the glass and the bottle. Johnathan took the thermometer out of Margaret's shaking hands and read the mercury. His face was extremely calm.
"Prepare the room," he coldly ordered the other man. That one took one look at the thermometer and walked away.
"Wait...what room? What's the temperature?" Winnifred slowly asked, following the man with her eyes.
"Miss Margaret, how long were you ill?" Johnathan quietly asked instead, kneeling down in front of her. Margaret looked at him with her tired eyes, trying to understand the question.
"This would be the second week," she finally whispered.
"And always with temperature?"
"Yes...well...yes."
"Margaret, you have a temperature of forty and one,"Johnathan quietly said.
"You have to stay here, until the temperature stabilizes. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Margaret quietly answered.
"Wait, what do you mean stay here?" Winnifred impulsively grabbed Johnathan by the arm.
"Is everything that serious?"
"Freddie, we start hospitalizing people with the temperature of thirty nine and five. And your cousin has pneumonia. Yes, everything is that serious."
Winnifred fell silent, leaning back on the wall. Margaret glanced at her.
"I'll be fine," she whispered, touching Winnifred's sleeve with the tips of her fingers. Winnifred closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. The man with whom Johnathan came returned back again.
"Everything is ready," he curtly informed. Winnifred sighed and helped Margaret stand up by the elbow.
The night was extremely humid. It was two o'clock. Winnifred blinked and shook her legs, waking herself up. Her cousin lay on the white bed, undressed and cold compresses patched all over her body. Margaret finally fell asleep around one. Winnifred glanced at the clock and quietly stood up. Johnathan was waiting her outside, sitting on the bench and writing something. When she walked out, he stood up, tucking his clipboard under his arm.
"How is she?"
"She finally fell asleep," Winnifred sighed. "Auntie is going to come right now. You know, I can't stay here because of fucking work." Winnifred tiredly rubbed her face with her hand and dropped it back down.
"This is so horrible..." she looked back at the door behind her. Johnathan silently watched her. Winnifred turned back around.
"Will you look after her her?" She quietly asked.
"Of course," Johnathan easily agreed. Winnifred nodded in thanks, then began down the bleak hallway. Everything inside her seemed pressed down by some immense weight. Winnifred pulled the jacket tighter over herself and turned left to the reception desk. Aunt Martha was standing beside it. She didn't say anything, simply pressed her lips together.
"Which room?" Aunt Martha simply inquired.
"Tenth. To the right, third door to the left." Aunt Martha sighed, then patted Winnifred on the arm.
"Go to sleep, I will watch over her."
Winnifred nodded and dragged her way outside. She didn't remember how she walked back home, only when she finally entered her and Margaret's room. Her blue eyes fell on the flowers in the vases, the ones she constantly pleaded Margaret not to throw away, despite their withered state. Winnifred apathetically grabbed them, breaking their fragile stems, and tossed them out the window.