Rogue

Chapter 11 - Sick

Just a short A/N: I apologise for taking so long to upload, but I was having some problems with these chapters and I was rather busy with my final exams. I'll definitely upload the next chapter next week, but there will be another break in uploading after that since I'll be on holiday. Hope you enjoy :)

~Hikari 

Chapter 11 – Sick

Leto cleaned the blood off her split lip as she sat next to Brian. He mumbled in his fevered sleep, tossing and kicking off his blankets. She pressed a wet cloth to his forehead, unsure of what else to do. It was late; far too late to find a doctor anywhere. She remembered Ma giving Sera lots of water and keeping her cool when Sera was sick at one stage, so she tried that method. She dripped the water into his mouth and removed one of the blankets. When he started shivering, she replaced it uncertainly. Her head ached from tiredness and her shoulders strained from mental and physical exhaustion. Numbers still floated around in her head, mingling with her waking nightmares. Pa hadn’t hurt her as bad as her usually would – probably so that she would be able to take care of Brian. She lay down next to him, closing her eyes for a few moments. It eased the pain in her head a fraction, but she had to fight to stay awake. Sleep was pulling at her strongly, opening its embrace for her to sink into. It would be as easy as stepping off a pavement.

She forced her eyes open and felt Brian’s temperature again. She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but his clammy skin felt hotter. She sat up, holding her head to stop the world from spinning, and refreshed the wet cloth. Somewhere in the house, a clock-tick punctuated the silence. It was the only sound she could here besides Brian’s breathing.

“Just a few minutes of sleep,” she murmured to herself. Giving her brother one last check, she lay down again and surrendered to her tiredness.

She felt the tap on her shoulder, muffled by the thick layer of sleep that cocooned her. Nothing pained while she slept. It was only her mind that was in torment, but soon the dreams fell away to blank rest.  She shrugged the tap off, but then it became more insistent, dragging her awake. She rubbed her eyes, wincing as bruises screamed in protest to the movement. Brian peered at her, his eyes wide and alert. He still looked pale, but his cheeks weren’t pink anymore.

“Leto, I’m hungry.”

She sighed and glanced at the window. Faint, dawn-light filtered through the curtains. She probably had four hours of sleep.

“Hold on. I’ll get you something now now. Don’t get up,” she yawned and got up slowly. Brian tried to follow her, but she pushed him back.

“Rest, Brian. I can see that you’re feeling better but you still have to rest.”

“But it’s boring here! I want to come with you!”

He grabbed the back of her top in his small hands. She sighed and patiently detached him.

“Stay, or I’m not going to bring you something nice.”

He pouted, but stayed where he was.

She searched the kitchen for food. There were a few slices of bread and some jam. She made herself a cup of coffee from the last few granules in the tin as a reward for the competition the night before. It was difficult to believe that only a few hours before, she had been celebrating. Now, she was covered in bruises again and so tired she could barely stand up. Thankfully, it was a Saturday and there was a chance she’d be able to coax Brian into sleeping again. She tiptoed to her father’s room while her coffee cooled and peered in. The room was empty, to her relief.