As the time drew near for the doctor's arrival, Nathalie found herself growing a bit unsettled. Gabriel was nowhere in sight. Considering how concerned he seemed to be, it was surprising he wasn't sticking around to listen in. She hoped he wasn't doing anything rash. He tended to be unpredictable when he felt helpless. Considering what tomorrow was, there was no telling what mental state he was in...
~x~x~x~
Nathalie's concerns weren't unwarranted. Gabriel had noted a disgruntled, probably end of his shift, doctor approaching his manor and decided that just wouldn't do. He wanted results, not someone who was too tired to truly be thorough. Thus, he decided to take advantage of the doctor's ill mood...
The doctor paused in his stride as an akuma entered his ID badge.
A voice echoed through his mind.
"Greetings, Dr. Right. I am Hawkmoth. These rich folks think they can waste your precious time? I offer you the power to instantly and accurately diagnose any person you touch with your left hand and tranquilize them with your right so you can get a much-deserved break. In exchange, all I ask are Ladybug's and Cat Noir's miraculouses."
"Yeah... let's get this over with." the gruff doctor consented, giving into the akumatization. He burst into the manor.
Nathalie frowned deeply, "What are you doing here?"
Dr. Right brushed by her, setting his hands briefly on her shoulders, "Near-sightedness, occasional migraines from overwork. Current condition: Okay."
Nathalie's blood ran cold. Gabriel couldn't be serious!
All at once, she slumped to the floor, a syringe sticking out of her shoulder.
Hawkmoth noted Nathalie might be cross with him later, but that was a small price to pay for this precision.
"Good, Dr. Right. Proceed to the room of Adrien Agreste."
"Yeah, whatever." Dr. Right huffed, making his way up the stairs.
He burst into Adrien's room with scarcely a knock.
~x~x~x~
Plagg watched from the shadows in alarm.
"An akuma? Here?"
Adrien was in no condition to become Cat Noir.
He was completely out, burning with fever.
The akumatized villain approached, hand touching Adrien's forehead, "Psychogenic fever brought on by excessive stress and fatigue. Stress also seems to be causing some stomach sensitivities. Patient additionally seems to have an unrelated common cold in progress. Conclusion: Patient requires fluids and plenty of rest. One to two weeks rest is advised. Additionally, patient would benefit in dealing with emotional stressors to minimize symptoms."
"Very well, Dr. Right. Proceed to your next patient and draw out Ladybug and Cat Noir." a voiced echoed in the akumatized villain's mind.
Plagg watched carefully as the villain stalked out and frowned.
He wasn't sure what was going on, but he had to get word out somehow.
He glanced at Adrien's phone and got an idea.
He brought up Adrien's contacts, sending to most of his friends the message:
'Help! There's a doctor at my house that's been akumatized!'
~x~x~x~
The simple text sent Ms. Bustier's class into an uproar. Ms. Bustier had to put in a call to the principal's office in an effort to protect students.
Marinette took advantage of the confusion to slip away to the girl's bathroom. In the privacy of a stall, she opened her purse, "Tikki, we have to get to the Agreste Manor fast!" she said, worry creasing her brow.
"Just say the word, Marinette." Tikki replied with a nod.
"Tikki... spots on!" Marinette voiced, transforming into Ladybug.
She ducked out of the bathroom and fled the school before any sort of lockdown could commence.
Hurriedly, the young heroine swung on her yoyo. If Adrien was home sick, he was easy prey. She couldn't let him get hurt.
She stopped at the gates, opening her yoyo's phone function instinctually to call Cat Noir, then stopped herself. That's right- he was sick, too. If last night was any indication he needed to rest and badly... she didn't need to be calling him on a whim. After all, she smiled sadly, he would all too quickly run to her aid, knowing him.
She put her phone away and moved forward cautiously.
The doors to the Agreste manor were open, so Ladybug let herself in.
Ladybug's eyes widened as she discovered Nathalie's crumpled form.
She checked for a pulse... Good. She wasn't waking up, though.
The teen heroine spotted the needle and took it out of Nathalie's arm gingerly, examining it.
"Tranquilizer?" she considered aloud.
She decided to be even more wary here on in.
Carefully, Ladybug headed up to Adrien's room, heart pounding as she saw the door ajar.
"Adrien?" she squeaked, approaching the bed.
Adrien looked every bit as unwell as Cat Noir had last night, maybe moreso. It made her heart ache to see him like this, but there were more pressing matters.
She thought she saw a flurry of black out of the corner of her eye, but when she looked around there was nothing to see.
Still, Ladybug decided, she'd better move him somewhere a little more secure.
"Adrien? Adrien?" she shook his shoulder gently.
"Wha... Lady...bug?" he stirred dimly, but didn't seem to be with it.
Delicately, she scooped him into her arms, "Just hold on, Adrien. We're going to get you somewhere safe." she promised.
He curled into her with a shiver.
Ladybug was about to take him out the window when a syringe appeared in her peripheral and she narrowly dodged.
"Ah, so you're the doctor."
"Dr. Right, to be exact. Hand over your miraculous, let's make this short and sweet." the akumatized villain said.
"Thanks, but no thanks." Ladybug replied.
She dipped and ducked around his attempts to stick her and ran past him back down the stairs.
Adrien began to stir more with all the jostling.
"...Ladybug?" he asked again, coughing.
She spared him a glance as her eyes darted around for a place to lay him, "Where won't they look for you?"
"...What...?" Adrien asked helplessly.
"Dr. Right." Ladybug replied, "We have to hide you."
"...I thought 'twas s'pposed t'be Mr. Right..." Adrien murmured, clearly delirious.
Ladybug sighed, wondering how he'd even managed to call the akuma in...
"Never mind. I'll figure something out." she said.
She found the pantry and hastily rearranged some things to hide him inside.
"Sorry Adrien," she apologized, "But it's the best I can do right now."
She stopped just shy of placing a gentle kiss on his brow, "I'll be back." she said instead.
"Mm...kay." Adrien murmured.
She nodded and closed the doors, hating herself for every minute.
She heard a loud thud in the hall and stiffened, running cautiously to the scene.
Plagg phased into the pantry. Adrien really must be out of it if he wasn't even trying to get out of here... He hated being confined in small spaces.
"You good, kid?" he asked quietly.
"I feel... floaty..." Adrien murmured, "Plagg... am I dead?"
"Oh boy..."
~x~x~x~
Ladybug discovered Adrien's bodyguard with a similar syringe sticking out of his body. She frowned.
She narrowly avoided getting jabbed again, then felt his left hand squeeze her shoulder. The teen jerked away suddenly, worried she didn't have much time.
Instead, Dr. Right spoke, "Significant sleep debt. Showing some symptoms of fatigue..."
"Thanks for your analysis, doctor, but I'm a-okay!" Ladybug leapt backwards to add some more distance between them. "Lucky charm!"
A corkboard appeared in her hands.
Ladybug smirked. She knew what to do.
The villain chased her throughout the house and when they rounded a corner, she managed to gain enough momentum to slam his right hand into the cork, instantly gripping the needles in his hand.
With the threat of being tranquilized diminished, Ladybug managed to find his akuma.
As the dark butterfly fluttered to escape, she swung her yoyo and captured the delicate creature, purifying it.
As the doctor de-akumatized, Ladybug gave the corkboard a toss with her traditional shout of "Miraculous Ladybug!"
The doctor now looked around helplessly, "Ladybug? What am I doing here? Where is Adrien Agreste?"
She blanched at the thought of Adrien stuffed in the pantry.
She just had to move him before his father saw... or anyone else really!
"Uh, you were akumatized by Hawkmoth, but no worries. Just ask one of the Agreste family servants to show you to Adrien's room." she said hurriedly.
"But-"
Ladybug had already darted off.
~x~x~x~
Adrien was asleep again, so Ladybug moved him gingerly back up to his bed, laying him down. "Sorry you got caught up in this mess while you were sick. Feel better soon." she bade quietly, smoothing back his hair.
She resolved to check back in later as Marinette, provided she was let past the front gate.
Her earrings beeped, and she heard movement outside the room, so the teen heroine of creation let herself out the window swiftly.
~x~x~x~
Gabriel Agreste met Nathalie and the doctor just outside of Adrien's room, "We no longer require your services, doctor." he stated.
This seemed to jostle the haggard doctor, but Gabriel was adamant, and Nathalie gently escorted him out. Though the look she gave her superior said that there were some choice words to come.
Gabriel clasped his hands behind his back, as if bracing himself.
After guiding the poor doctor out, he could see Nathalie glaring venom at him.
He walked casually down the stairs.
The moment his foot touched the entryway, the normally calm assistant pounced, "What was that?!" she snapped.
"I wanted results and quickly. I got them." Gabriel replied simply. "I am sorry you had to be in the crosshairs."
"Sir. You akumatized a doctor that was already going to help Adrien. That seems a bit much, even for you." Nathalie replied, crossing her arms.
Gabriel shifted, "I have my reasons, at any rate, we have our diagnosis."
Nathalie forced her anger beneath the surface, "What's wrong with him?" she asked.
"Psychogenic fever and a cold. Evidently he's just stressed and overtired." Gabriel relayed, "We'll push fluids and rest a few days and he'll be fine." there was a sense of relief in his tone, and with it a note of arrogant apathy. A mask he often wore when he didn't want to feel.
Nathalie eyed him stormily, "Just stressed and overtired? Did you take a good look at Adrien this morning?"
"He's a teenager, Nathalie." Gabriel qualified, "His biggest stressors are whether or not he'll win his fencing tournaments or make perfect grades. He'll get over it."
Her eyes narrowed, "And you can't think of anything else that would stress him out?"
Gabriel shifted uncomfortably, feeling oddly transparent.
"Pardon?"
"Emilie's birthday tomorrow, sir." Nathalie supplied firmly, "Just because you want to pretend it's not coming doesn't mean Adrien doesn't remember."
"But making himself sick over it?" Gabriel asked dubiously, "He's been coping so well until now."
"With all due respect, you really don't have room to speak about coping, sir, when you've been akumatizing people in the middle of the night when you have trouble sleeping." Nathalie reminded.
She was bold today, Gabriel noted, but he supposed she had a point.
"Fair." he acknowledged and seemed to sigh tiredly under her gaze, "Alright. I'm sorry. Clear his schedule the next four days. Keep his fluid up, keep him distracted. He'll be fine."
"Sir..." Nathalie began again, but he was already walking away.
She shook her head. She wasn't sure Adrien wanted to just forget about his mom's birthday. Still, she would do her best to help him recover. She dearly hoped Gabriel could sort himself out enough to spend time with his son tomorrow...
~x~x~x~
Between various phone calls, Nathalie made rounds to check on Adrien, urging him to drink some water on each visit.
He was largely out of it for the morning hours, but his fever seemed to be going down by early afternoon, so she elected to let him sleep a bit longer.
It was midafternoon when someone buzzed in at the gate.
Nathalie went to check, "Yes, who is it?"
Marinette stood there, backpack a little heavier than normal, "Umm... I'm um... Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I'm from Adrien's class..."
"What do you want?"
Marinette felt her nerves multiply, "I," she gulped, "I brought Adrien's schoolwork. There are notes on everything..."
"Put it in the dropbox." Nathalie said plainly.
Marinette frowned slightly, "I also have some other stuff for him... it may not fit." she said sheepishly.
Nathalie quirked an eyebrow, but decided to see how things played out, "Bring it in."
She opened the gate and met Marinette in the foyer.
Marinette fiddled with her purse strap, peeking slightly beyond Nathalie, "Is it okay if I bring his work up to him?"
"He's resting."
"Oh."
Nathalie eyed her, "You said you had other things?"
"Right... um..." Marinette's cheeks colored, "I put together a 'get-well' basket. There's soup in there and it's hot... for the moment."
Nathalie regarded the girl, "I'll tell you what. I'll see if he's awake. If he is, I'll see if he wants your soup while it's warm. Then you've got to go. Okay?" she said firmly.
"Yes ma'am." Marinette squeaked.
Nathalie nodded curtly and headed up the stairwell.
Author's Note:
My cat still lives, but she doesn't seem to be doing well. Just soaking up time with her atm. In other news, this chapter was entirely born during the editing process, so that's fun. Had to sneak in a sorta Ladrien chapter somewhere. Reviews make me happy and I'll see you in Chapter 6!