"It's okay, Charlotte," Skittery said as he carried an unconscious Charlotte in his arms up the stairs. "We're almost there."

Adelaide raced up the stairs ahead of Skittery.

"Mm-hmm," Charlotte moaned quietly. She was sweating and shivering at the same time.

Adelaide raced ahead of Skittery down the hall, scanning the numbers on the doors. She finally reached the Jacobs' door. She knocked furiously, hoping someone was awake.

"Come on, come on," she said, tapping her foot. Skittery finally caught up to her, waiting behind her. She knocked loudly on the door again.

Finally, they heard the deadbolt turn and the door opened to reveal David. He was still dressed, despite the late hour.

"Aide…what's going…" his eyes drifted toward Skittery holding Charlotte. "Oh god, what happened?"

"Opium. She's burning up and she keeps passing out."

David opened the door wider. "Put her on the sofa."

Skittery walked into the small apartment and walked over to the couch, gently laying Charlotte down.

"I sent Emma to get Violet. She's been staying with us this week. She's the only person I can think of who'd know how to handle this."

David nodded. "Good thinking. I don't know if we'd be able to get a doctor down here."

"What's going on?" Mr. Jacobs limped out of the bedroom, closely followed by Mrs. Jacobs.

"She's burning up," said David, putting his hand on her sweaty forehead.

"Oh dear," said Mrs. Jacobs, rushing to the kitchen to fill a small basin with water and cloths.

David squatted next to the couch, holding Charlotte's hand in both of his.

"Are you Spot?" asked Mr. Jacobs, looking suspiciously at Skittery.

Skittery looked over at him. "Uh, no, sir. I'm Skittery. I'm with Aide."

Mr. Jacobs nodded, relaxing a bit.

"What's going on out here?" Les walked out of the bedroom, yawning.

The other bedroom door opened and Sarah walked out. "What's happening?" She squinted in the light.

Just then, the front door burst open again and Violet walked in. She looked at Adelaide, putting a finger in her face as she passed her. "You owe me."

Violet walked over to Charlotte. She lifted one of her eyelids. "We gotta get her in a tub."

"Wh-who's this?" Mr. Jacobs asked, still wondering why his living room was filling up with people at such a late hour.

"This is Violet," Adelaide answered. "She's…well-versed in situations like these. I'm so sorry about this. We didn't know where else to take her."

Mr. Jacobs gave Adelaide a smile and a pat on the shoulder. "You did the right thing."

David helped Mrs. Jacobs get the family's bathing basin ready in the kitchen. He began pumping water into it as Sarah began boiling some water.

"What can we do?" Adelaide asked.

"Get her in the tub, because she's gonna be sweating all night," said Violet. "Keep her awake. Give her water. Keep a basin nearby in case she throws up."

"Sarah, will you help me put up a curtain in the kitchen?" asked Mrs Jacobs. "Skittery, would you mind taking Charlotte into the kitchen?"

Skittery nodded and he walked over and picked up Charlotte - who was soaking wet with sweat - and carried her into the kitchen. Sarah and David put up a curtain to separate the living area from the kitchen.

"Set her here," said Mrs. Jacobs, pulling out a chair. "Then you boys get out. Adelaide, help me with her clothes."

Skittery set Charlotte down and Adelaide walked over so Charlotte could lean against her. Skittery walked out of the kitchen.

"Les, why don't you go back to bed," said Mr. Jacobs.

"But I don't wanna miss anything!"

David rolled his eyes. "You won't. Go back to bed."

"But I don't wanna!" said Les.

"Come on, Les," said Sarah, putting her arm around him. "We'll just be in the way out here."

Mr. Jacobs nodded as Sarah and Les went back into the bedroom. Mr. Jacobs limped over to the couch and sat down. Skittery stood awkwardly in the corner and David paced the room.


Adelaide and Mrs. Jacobs managed to strip Charlotte down to her underthings and set her in the tub.

Charlotte had sweat dripped off her, but she was shivering.

"Hang in there, Charlotte," said Violet, kneeling in front of the tub, facing Charlotte. "This is the worst part."

"P-please," Charlotte shivered. "Get me…just a little…"

Violet looked up at Adelaide. "It would help to give her a little."

"Under no circumstances will that substance come under my roof," Mrs. Jacobs shook her head.

Violet sighed and glanced up at the older woman. "Sorry, Char. You're in for a long night…day…week…"

Mrs. Jacobs perched on the edge of a chair and dabbed Charlotte's forehead with a wet washcloth.

"W-where am I?" Charlotte asked.

"You're in our apartment," said Mrs. Jacobs, soaking a rag and wringing it over Charlotte's back. "Skittery and Adelaide brought you back."

"Everything hurts," Charlotte moaned.

"I'm sure it does," said Violet. "It will for a while."

"Spot…" she moaned. "Where's Spot?"

Violet's jaw clenched, but she said nothing.

"He's still in the refuge," said Adelaide.

"Don't leave me, okay?" Charlotte whispered. She looked at Adelaide.

Adelaide nodded. "I won't."


The men remained quiet in the living room. Mr. Jacobs dozed on a chair, David continued to pace, and Skittery stood in the corner, his arms crossed.

A small noise from the doorway caught his attention. He turned and saw Emma, hiding behind the wall.

"Em, how long have you been there?" he asked, walking over.

"Since I brought Violet here."

"Oh, Em." He put his arm around her. "You should've come in."

"I wasn't sure if I was allowed."

Skittery knelt in front of her. "Remember what we talked about?" he asked softly.

Emma hesitated and then nodded.

"What?"

"That I'm allowed to go wherever you and Aide go."

"Mm-hm. What else?"

"That you're never gonna yell or hit me if I do something wrong."

"Exactly." He put his hands on her shoulders. He could see she was tired. "Come on. I'll take you home."

Emma shook her head.

"Want me to take you back to our place? It's closer. You can sleep in the attic again."

Emma shook her head. "I don't wanna go without Aide."

"Here," David said, walking over to the sofa. He laid out a blanket. "She can sleep here."

"Thanks," Skittery gave David a grin. "Come on." He took Emma's hand and led her over to the couch.

"Don't leave me here, okay?"

Skittery wanted to pull her into his arms, hold her, and tell her that they would never leave her in a place where she was uncomfortable. Skittery just gave her a small smile. "Never."

Skittery sat on the couch and Emma crawled on, resting her head on his leg, curling her body into a ball.

David watched their interaction.

"Is she, um," David started. He looked toward the kitchen, where Adelaide was, closed off by the sheet. He looked back at Emma. "You know, is she…"

Skittery raised an eyebrow, knowing what David was getting at. "No."

David nodded. He continued pacing the living room.

After several minutes, Violet walked out of the sheet. "Those ladies can handle the rest. I'm going home. Good luck."

David jumped up out of his seat. "Thank you so much for—"

But Violet was already out the door.

David raised his eyebrows and turned to look at Skittery, who just shrugged and rolled his eyes. "Just another one of the women of Spot Conlon."