Before anyone could say anything, the front door burst open, nearly sending the three of them through the roof -Hope giving a cry as her ankle was agitated again-, and in tramped Tabby, soaked to the bone and shivering. "Smeagol, why is the whole town a buzz about you and Deagol going out in the rain on some foolish- oh, Hope dear! You're drenched!" Hope sneezed in response, and Tabby forgot whatever it was she was going to say before and hustled into the kitchen. Smeagol and Deagol glanced at each other, slightly annoyed at the fact that she hadn't noticed they were just as wet, but said nothing. Tabby came back in a huff, carrying a small bottle and forced it down Hope's throat. It burned all the way down and cleared out her sinuses,
and left poor Hope coughing and sputtering.
Her face of disgust made both Smeagol and Deagol laugh, both of them knowing how nasty the stuff was. "What was that?!" she cried once she had maintained control of herself.
"Cold medicine," said Tabby. "Could help you from catching a fever." Hope coughed one last time and thought of how the 21st century cough syrup didn't even hold a glimmer to how nasty that had been. She probably wouldn't complain so much now if she ever had it again. Tabby felt her forehead and frowned.
"You're absolutely freezing! I'll fetch you another blanket..." She scurried off and Hope sighed, pulling the one she already had tighter around herself. Once Tabby was back, Smeagol pointed out Hope's ankle and Tabby frowned and shook her head. "Now that I cannot fix," she sighed. "I'll have to send for the doctor. Will you three be all right alone?"
"Yes," they answered together.
"Very well then. Deagol, I'll let your parents know you're here... they're probably worried. Whatever you do, don't move her, you understand me?"
"Yes," they said together again. She left and Hope looked around at Smeagol and Deagol.
"Can one of you sit behind me?" she asked. Smeagol got up and sat down behind her. "Turn aroun," she said, and he gave her a funny glance, but obeyed. Once his back was facing hers she leaned back and rested her back against his. "My back's killing me and I needed something to lean against"
she said softly, and Deagol chuckled.
"Oh, and I thought you just wanted to be close to me," Smeagol muttered sarcastically. She snickered and shrugged.
"Sorry. You're only good for a back rest."
"So what happens when I move?" he asked, pretending to stand and she squealed and grabbed on to him.
"No!" He laughed and lowered himself down again. "I was only joking"
----
Hope had kept quiet before when Matteus had set her ankle the first time, but now she let it all out, screaming bloody murder as the doctor handled it. Part of the screaming was from the fear of remembering how badly it would hurt, the rest was from when the actual pain set in. Smeagol held her hand the entire time and wiped away her tears as they fell.
When it was done and wrapped up she felt like shew as five again, screaming so much at pain. But Smeagol still held her hand as if he understood so she didn't think much about it. Once her ankle was done with, she told Tabby what had happened in the forest, and Tabby set off at once,
ready to handle it and start a search to take care of him.
Smeagol carried Hope to her room after having been told to not let her put any weight on her ankle, and she fell asleep in his arms. Strange, he thought as he saw how tightly she clung to him. It wasn't like her to be afraid of the dark.
----
The bedroom door opened and Smeagol slitted his eyes open... then blinked a few times. How long had he been asleep? Deagol was standing there, and smiling. "Deag?" groaned Smeagol. Hope moaned beside him and shifted but did not wake. "What are you doing?" he whispered.
"They caught him," he whispered back. "I thought you might like to know."
"Already?" Smeagol asked, eyes wide and stunned.
"Apparently he was on his way to the village again and after..." he paused and looked at Hope's sleeping form, and then looked back at Smeagol. Smeagol nodded in understanding. "I wouldn't tell her if I were you," he added quickly. "That he was after her I mean."
"I won't," said Smeagol, stroking Hope's shoulder absentmindedly. This time she did wake, and blinked a few times and looked up at Deagol in confusion.
"Whazgoingon?" she moaned in one string, yawning at the end.
"Richard's been caught. He's in a prison now," whispered Smeagol. She smiled, too tired to look as happy as she felt... or to register how happy she should be for that matter. Smeagol kissed her cheek and she stole an unsure glance at Deagol. From the shadows it was hard to see his face... but it was almost as though it had darkened.
"Is Tabby back yet?" asked Smeagol.
"No," answered Deagol. "She's still got some things to sort out. She may be out all night with this." He walked over to the bed and Hope signalled him to climb in too. The snickered as they all got under the covers, Hope sandwiched inbetween, and eventually they all dozed off like that. When Tabby did come back and opened the door to check on them, she found Hope had managed to flip herself over so her head was poking out at the over end while her feet were on the pillow -she was on her belly-, Deagol slept partially leaning against the wall, and Smeagol was on his belly, his right arm and leg hanging over the edge.
Tabby restrained a laugh at the sight and left them like that, knowing it wouldn't harm anything.
-
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