Chapter 10 - Doctor Problems

Cloud had been off work for two days, which was for the better. He worried endlessly over the twins, who were having a hard time getting up to do anything because of the injuries sustained from the wolves.
It was early morning the third day when he heard a soft gasping from Len's room. Stepping in to check, he noticed the boy had fallen out of his bed trying to get up. Cloud picked Len up and put him to bed, noticing the pale pallor in the boy's skin and flushed face.
"Len?"
"Water." Len whispered. "Please?"
Cloud nodded, touching the boy's forehead. It was burning hot. Still, he retrieved a glass of water from the kitchen and helped hold Len up as the boy drank.
Len fell asleep almost immediately after drinking, making Cloud worry more. He stepped into the room across the hall to check on Rin, only to find her condition the same. Both children were feverish.
Cloud quietly stepped out of the room and tried to think. The kids needed a doctor, but he knew he couldn't move them in their current condition, nor could he leave them alone. And he didn't know any doctors, either.
Looking at his cell, Cloud sighed and dialed his cousin.
"Hello?"
"Elena, it's Cloud." He sounded pathetic. "The kids are sick." Tears started to run down his face. "They both have nasty fevers, and it's all my fault."
"Cloud, what makes it your fault?" Elena asked.
"They got attacked by wolves, and I called Tifa over to help Rin because of some of the bites and scratches, and now both of them are sick and I can't loose them." By this point Cloud was sitting on the floor, one hand in his hair, tears streaming down his face. "I need to know if you know a doctor who'll come check on them."
Elena paused a moment. "Yeah, I know someone." She quoted a number to Cloud. "Tell the doctor Elena said to do it."
"Ok. Thanks." Cloud hung up and called the number, not questioning who it could be.
"Hello?"
Crap! It was Tseng. "It's Cloud Strife calling. I have two sick children here in need of care, and Elena said you should do it."
There was silence a moment. "Fine, I'll be over. Your address?"
Cloud gave it to him, then hung up the phone. Of all the people Elena had to send his way, why Tseng? Why the doctor that had seen Denzel's dead body?
Tseng was there within the hour, half-expecting to see two children knocking on Death's doorway. He was shocked when Cloud showed him the two rooms and noticed both children were still very much alive. "Leave me to my work." he said, stepping first into Rin's room.
Cloud paced. He paused, took a deep breath, and called Reeve.
"Cloud?"
"Yeah, it's me. Look, I can't work today."
"It have something to do with the kids?"
"Yeah. They're both sick with fevers, and Tseng's here right now checking on them."
"Will you be in tomorrow?"
"If I can. I'll call if I can't, ok?"
"Alright. Hope they get better soon."
Cloud nodded. "Thanks, Reeve." He hung up the phone, only to nearly drop it seconds later when it rang again. "Hello?"
"Cloudy, sweety. Hi."
"Uh, hi, Selphie." Cloud said, not sure why she was using that awful sticky-sweet voice. "Why are you calling? Aren't you at work?"
"I was just calling to see if those two brats had kicked the bucket yet."
That was it for Cloud. "If you can't even try to put an ounce of care into the two I have, then I never want to speak to you again!" he snapped. "And they're still alive, thank you." He snapped the phone shut and slumped down into a chair, letting out a puff of air that ruffled his bangs. This just wasn't going well.
Tseng stepped out of Len's room and looked at Cloud. "I've finished." he said.
"And?" Cloud asked, getting up.
"They have infections in the wounds. What were they attacked by?"
"Wolves." Cloud replied. "They got into the yard with the dogs, and the twins didn't notice until it was too late. I didn't even notice."
"I recommend rest and medicine to fight the inflammation." Tseng said.
"How much?" Cloud asked.
"80,000 gil." came the reply.
Cloud handed over the money. After Tseng left, Cloud checked the medication, cursing himself afterwards. If he followed the directions, which he'd have to to make sure they recovered, he only had enough for three days for both of them. He'd have to work, and work hard, in order to get more.
`~`~`~`~O_O~`~`~`~`
"Seventh Heaven, Marlene Walace speaking." The young girl looked over at Tifa. "One moment." She put her hand on the receiver. "Tifa, it's for you."
Tifa accepted the phone. "Hello, Tifa speaking." She looked shocked. "Slow down, Cloud. What happened?" She put down her rag. "I'll be right over." Putting the phone down, Tifa grabbed her purse. "Rude, I have to go over to Cloud's, he's asked me to watch the kids."
"Take care." said the big bald man, giving Tifa a hug and a kiss.
Tifa headed down to Cloud's house and knocked.
Cloud was already dressed in his delivery gear when he answered. "Hey, Tifa. Thanks for coming."
"Why couldn't you call Elena or Shira?"
"Shira's already got her hands full with her and Cid's five, plus she's pregnant again, and Elena's away this week, starting today, to visit family, or whatever's left of it."
"So, what's wrong?"
Cloud sighed. "They have fevers. Tseng said it's infection from the wounds, and they have to take their medicine three times a day. Problem is, 80,000 gil only bought three days, and I know they're going to need more to get better. They can hardly drag themselves to the bathroom and back, so I need someone to watch them while I work."
"It's ok." said Tifa. "I'll watch them for you. Just don't make yourself sick, ok?"
Cloud nodded. "I'm gonna be late, tonight." he said before leaving.
This continued for about a week. Tifa would come over in the morning, and Cloud would say good bye to the twins and leave for the day, returning late at night. The second week, Tifa would come in the morning and evening to make sure they got food and a good cooked meal, but the twin were otherwise able to mostly care for themselves. The third and fourth weeks, it was just the occasional trip over to help with dinner.
It was a warmer night when the crunching of tires on gravel didn't come.