#anyway tomorrow i need to go to the hospital for blood tests

[lonelychicago]

tagged by the lovelies @spotsandsocks @daffi-990 @wikiangela @underwater-ninja-13 @honestlydarkprincess @hippolotamus @loveyouanyway @exhuastedpigeon 💗

this is from buck is an idiot fic im writing rn <33 i wanted to finish it today and post but its not looking good so im probably gonna post tomorrow.

Just then, before a full protest can fall from Buck's lips, ‘Cowboy Take Me Away’ by The Chicks starts blasting through the ambulance, filling the space with the cheesy tune.

Buck's cheeks flush and he sits up a little straighter, stifling an embarrassing whimper as he reaches his hand out and makes a grabbing gesture with his fingers.

“That's, uh— my phone. Can you hand it over?”

“We need to take you to a hospital. And clean your wound. And—”

“Just give me my damn phone, man.” Buck most definitely does not whine.

Pain is still washing over him in waves and his abdomen feels like it's burning from inside out— although the intensity of it is slowly, oh so slowly, fading away as the seconds pass. Or maybe the blood loss is making Buck too dizzy and weak to notice. Whatever.

When Adams reluctantly passes the phone over, Buck takes a deep breath before answering, only hissing a little when the slight movement makes the gash in his abdomen sting with a sharp pinch.

His thumb shakes and it takes him a couple of tries before he finally answers the call, just as its about to send Eddie to voicemail.

“Hey, man. What's up?”

Buck tries to make his voice sound calmed and unbothered, casual— and he thinks he mostly succeeds if the paramedics' annoyed and unamused stares are anything to go by.

“Hey, Buck. Are you busy right now?” Eddie's voice sounds strained and has an edge to it, that immediately has Buck frowning with worry and concern.

“Uh,” Buck looks down at his exposed abdomen where blood is still, even if slow and thin, gushing out of his wound. The skin around it looking red and… not good at all. “Nah, man. I'm not doing anything, why? Is Chris okay?”

“He's fine. We're fine.” Eddie sighs and Buck can picture the man pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration so well that it's like he's right in front of Eddie, watching him instead of just on the phone with him. “He's just really testing my patience today. Turns out there's a bake sale at his school tomorrow for a trip? And he has to take fifty cupcakes.”

“Ah,” Buck nodes. ignoring Miller and Adam's raised eyebrows. “Say no more. I'll be there as soon as I can.”

“You're panting. Are you sure you're not busy?”

“I went for a run, but it's okay. I'm done with it anyway.”

“Oh,” Buck can't be sure, but Eddie sounds… disappointed? But then he's talking again, and Buck pushes that little moment to the back of his mind. “Can you swing by the grocery store too? We need ingredients.”

Buck looks down at his wound one more time and sighs. “Sure. I can totally do that.”

“Thanks, man. See you in a bit?”

“Yeah, see you soon.”

tagging @watchyourbuck @monsterrae1 @buddierights @hoodie-buck @tizniz @wildlife4life @bigfootsmom @rogerzsteven @father-salmon @giddyupbuck @devirnis @sunshinediaz @the-likesofus @spaceprincessem @disasterbuckdiaz @heartshapedvows @athenagranted @theotherbuckley @fortheloveofbuddie @evanbegins @gayedmundodiaz @excuseme-greentea @messyhairdiaz @weewootruck @thewolvesof1998 @eddiebabygirldiaz and anyone else who wants to do it <3333

[save-the-villainous-cat]

Supervillain pressures Villain to go through with an awful plot against the Hero, but the Villain doesn’t want to. Meanwhile the same is true for Superhero and Hero? Maybe? Idk? :3

Five months ago, the villain had been sceptical. Today, they were sick to their stomach.

Hospitals are messier than you might think, the supervillain had said. They wouldn’t notice if you posed as a doctor or nurse for an hour.

The villain hadn’t really believed that but now that they were here, in a lab coat, pretending to come from the lab to get samples, they weren’t quite sure what to do. A nurse or a doctor was too obvious, the villain had figured. So, lab hours it was and even though their heart burnt whenever they saw the hero, they knew that they could get into trouble.

The hero visits the children every Wednesday.

Although their throat was dry, they tried to swallow as they stared at their nemesis in the room across the hall. They were sitting on one of the beds - obviously in costume - and made the children laugh. It was a sight for sore eyes and the villain couldn’t focus on the doctor who was talking to them about blood tests.

The hero was patient and kind. And the villain cursed themselves for being the way they were deep down. For being unable to be their own person, make their own decisions and work alone. For being so dependent on someone they loathed.

“Hey, hey,” the doctor snapped and the villain suddenly woke up from their daydreaming. “I need these by tomorrow.”

The villain nodded obediently and looked back at their nemesis one last time. They only mumbled a distant “see you” to the doctor before they walked down into the basement where the labs offered smelly safety.

On the way down, the villain’s thoughts reached another height of anxiety. What on earth were they doing? Working lab shifts in a hospital to get close to the hero? It was ridiculous and honestly, the supervillain had laughed at them too. Their suggestion had sounded more like kill the hero when they're visiting the children. And that had made the villain lose sleep for nights, feeding their anxious thoughts.

They didn’t even really notice when they bumped into someone. However, as soon as that certain someone pushed them against a door, they looked up and found — to their surprise — the hero in a lab coat close to them.

“Hi,” they said and the villain’s heart started jumping in their chest as if they were about to die.

“Hi-”

“Nice outfit.”

“Uh, you too...” The hero smiled and tilted their head. They didn’t seem embarrassed. There were still quite a few stairs leading down, so the villain wondered if that person up there was someone else or if the hero was insanely quick.

“I didn’t know you work at this hospital,” the hero whispered. They moved and came closer, forcing the villain’s back to meet the wall.

“I, well...I am very...smart.” This time, the hero laughed sweetly and the villain knew they couldn’t kill them. The whole plan was bullshit. Yes, sabotage was fun but murdering the hero?

“You are. I admire that, you know?” the hero said. They were quiet, staring into the villain’s eyes until they dropped down to their lips. But they seemed to collect themselves. “You’re not being naughty, are you?”

“Not more than usual,” the villain replied. They swallowed. “You’re pretty great with kids.”

“Kids are pretty easy.”

“That’s not true,” the villain said. Their breath was probably on the hero’s cheek. God, how embarrassing.

“Well, they’re not more complicated than adults. It’s easier to guess their motives, anyway.” A stern look followed, scolding the villain immediately. “I’ll have to let you know. If you’re threatening anyone in here, you’ll get in serious trouble. You know I’m soft on you but choose your battlefield wisely.”

“I don’t…I’m sorry, I really shouldn’t have come here,” the villain said. They had always been unsure of themselves, especially around the hero.

I’m soft on you.

“Normal mission? Espionage?” What did it matter? They were enemies, they knew one was supposed to eliminate the other. And the hero would find out anyway.

“We call it operations, not missions,” the villain whispered. “I’m supposed to kill you. But I can’t.”

“You mean you won’t.”

“No, I mean I can’t.” The hero stared at them, just stared. They looked gorgeous and the villain didn’t dare to breathe.

It seemed like they made a decision. The villain wanted to say something but then, suddenly, the hero’s lips pressed against their cheek.

“Be careful.” With that, they went up the staircase and after a moment of shock, the villain followed the staircase down with a million questions on their mind.

[braveclementine]

Acceptance and Headaches

Warnings: None

Copyright: I do not own any Twilight characters or locations. I do own Davina Mikelson and Marcel. I also own the backstory for my OC. I do not condone any copying of this.

Carlisle P.O.V.

No one had answered the home phone and I realized that, as she had only just left the hospital premises, she probably wouldn't be home anytime soon. So I waited.

For some strange reason, the hour seemed to go by tortuously slow for someone that's been alive for three hundred plus years.

Regardless, I finally dialed her number and waited.

"Hello?" The sweet voice on the other side asked.

I regained my composure and then asked, "Is this Davina Michaelson?"

There was a bit of a pause on her end. I could hear her scrapping back her chair and muttering, "I'll be back in a minute." to someone who grunted.

"Yes, this is she." She answered.

Hmm, proper grammar. What else was this young girl going to surprise me with?

"This is Dr. Cullen from the hospital regarding your internship."

"Ah." She said and I could hear the distaste start to seep into her voice.

I quickly replied, "I reviewed it and realized all of the questions on this sheet are ridiculous. I had no idea what the form consisted of. If you could please come in on your next available day to sign and fill out a new sheet that will be more towards the actual medical part of the field."

"Will I have to know my blood type?" She asked.

"No, it's unnecessary." I replied.

She snorted on the other side of the phone and then said, "Is there anything I should know?"

"Basic anatomy." I answered, wondering if she truly could name every bone in the body.

"I'll be in tomorrow then." She replied.

"I look forward to meeting you." I replied before letting the phone click.

There was a knock at the door. "Come in." I called.

Alice danced through the door, Jasper following her. I was just slightly surprised and said, "What can I do for you two?"

Alice was buzzing with excitement, per usual, making Jasper looking excited as well. "We met your soulmate at school today."

That perked my interest, "Did you really?"

"Yes." Jasper said which confirmed everything I needed to know.

"What's she like?" I asked curiously. The idea of having a soulmate after three hundred years was exhilarating and also frightening at the same time, though I'd never admit it. Jasper could probably feel it though.

"She's very different." Jasper answered with just the slightest frown.

"Not like anyone I've ever met before." Alice replied which sent my hopes up. "And, she'll be interning under you!"

"What's her name?" I asked carefully.

"Davina Michaelson." Alice replied.

Davina P.O.V.

Dr. Cullen let me hang up on him and I headed back into the house.

"So?" Sam asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That was Dr. Cullen. He's discarding the internship papers. He wants me to come in for a sort of test on my anatomical knowledge tomorrow." I said, a bit of excitement slipping into my tone.

"Oh." Sam said, but it sounded more like a question.

"I hope I do good on it." I fretted and then smiled. "Anyways, I should head back home. I'd hate to keep intruding on the two of you. I'm sure you have. . . things you want to do."

"Davina!" Sam scowled.

I smirked. I kissed his cheek, realizing his skin was rather hot, and said, "Don't worry, I'll come back soon. I can't resist teasing you."

He chuckled. "Stay safe shorty."

"You too ugly."

I slipped out the house again, starting up the motorcycle, peeling out of the driveway and making my way back to the house.

Once inside, I did my homework before going to the kitchen to make dinner. It was then I realized, looking at the empty cupboards, that I didn't actually have food in the house.

I shrugged my shoulders. I could go without food for one night. It's not like I hadn't done it before.

So I went upstairs, undressing, and climbing under the covers, falling asleep rather quickly.

----------------

The next day, I got dressed in a pair of jeans, combat boots, dark red v-neck short-sleeved shirt, and leather jacket. I hurried with the makeup, accenting my lips with coral lipstick and the eyes with an indigo eyeliner. Then I grabbed my bag, slung it over my shoulder, and made my way outside.

Much to my displeasure, it had snowed last night and the road was slicked with black ice.

I grumbled, dragging the motorcycle out of the garage before I heard a horn honk behind me. I turned, feeling rather anxious at whoever was beeping and saw Sam there with a blue pickup.

I grinned, slamming the garage door down, running to the pickup truck. "Hey Sam!" I said, opening the passenger door, jumping into the truck.

"Hi Dav." Sam replied, shooting me a grin, "Thought you might need a ride this morning."

I laughed. "Thanks."

Then my stomach ruined the mood by growling like a tiger. Sam raised an eyebrow this morning, "You didn't eat?"

"I don't have food in the house yet." I explained sheepishly.

He pursed his lips as he drove down the road, "Did you eat dinner last night?"

My silence was answer enough. He reached behind him- at a red light- and grabbed a box of muffins. "These are Paul's. You can have some."

"I don't know if I want to get on Paul's bad side." I joked as I took the box, setting it in my lap and shifting through it. I only liked chocolate muffins. I couldn't stand blueberry or cranberry yuck! I mean, whose genius idea was it to put fruit in something that was supposed to be a sweet?

"He'll live if you eat some of them." Sam said. "Are you eating lunch?"

I sighed. "I'll eat three meals a day after I go shopping. I just haven't had time in the past two days I've been here. I have lunch at school."

"Good."

I stuck my tongue out at him before taking every chocolate muffin available.

Sam chuckled, "Your sweet tooth still hanging in there then?"

"Never left." I said, ripping open the plastic wrapped muffin before biting into it. I nearly moaned at the sweet taste.

"You're going to get fat if you eat to much sugar. Then you'll be fat and short."

"Better than tall and ugly." I muttered, poking his arm. "Your arms are pudgy, you're one to talk."

"They're muscular, there's a difference." Sam said, rolling his muscles. I rolled my eyes. "It's freezing, where's your shirt?"

"I'm not cold."

"We'll see when you end up in the hospital with hypothermia." I jested. "And when the doc calls I'll just say I told you so."

"I'm sure you would." Sam smirked. "But if you'd ridden that motorcycle to school you would've been the one in the hospital today."

I snorted, "I'm a boss on it. I wouldn't have crashed."

"You weren't even going to put snow chains on it." He pointed out.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Well doesn't matter now. I'm nice and warm in this truck."

"I'll pick you up after school too." Sam said as we pulled in.

"You don't have to." I protested.

"Okay, do you plan on walking?" Sam questioned.

"Hmm, that might work off all the chocolate calories," I said, pretending to think about it. "Alright, fine, I'll accept your ride."

"Have a great day at school." He smirked. He looked out the windshield and I saw Jasper and Alice were standing there, looking at the both of us. Sam's hands tightened on the steering wheel.

"Oh good, Jaspers here!" I said excitedly. "And Alice."

Sam looked at me sharply. "You're not friends with them, are you?"

I frowned, "Well, I don't think so. But we have class together and they seem nice enough." I pecked his cheek. "See you after school Sammy."

I didn't notice the hatred that seemed to flow between Jasper and Sam as I climbed out of the truck, slamming the door behind me. Sam sped past Jasper and Alice as I made my way towards them with a smile, "Hey!"

Alice smiled, dancing towards me in a disorienting way, giving me a hug. "Hello Davina!"

"Was that your boyfriend?" She chirped as she pulled away.

I snorted, "Sam? No. My brother."

"Oh!" Alice said in obvious surprise. She wrinkled her nose a little and then said, "You don't look anything alike."

I chuckled, "Sorry, right. No, I just say he's my brother. But I guess we're just best friends. Anyways, what did you do after school yesterday?"

"We went to visit our dad at the hospital." Alice said.

"Your dad's a doctor?" I asked in obvious confusion.

Jasper laughed, "I thought you were trying to get an intern position under him?"

I blinked my eyes. Wait. Alice Cullen. Dr. Cullen.

I felt like a prize idiot. How had I not noticed that their last names were the same. I started to blush and Alice giggled, an action that sounded like tinkling bells. "He adopted us."

"I see." I said, blushing furiously. "I knew that."

"Sure you did." Jasper drawled in his accent.

"Alright, come on, class is starting soon." I said quickly, changing the subject, grabbing their hands and dragging them behind me towards the history building. I noticed that their hands were ice cold and felt hard as though they were crafted by marble. It was a strange contrast to Sam's boiling hot skin.

I said nothing, dragging them all the way to the classroom before letting go.

We took our seats and I settled into mine, pulling out my book again before Alice commented, "You really like to read?"

"Yes, it's one of my favorite things to do." I replied. "I absolutely love fantasy worlds and reading feels like I can be a part of the world."

"What world would you want to be in the most?" Alice asked curiously.

"Oh, that's a hard question." I replied, biting my bottom lip. "Harry Potter is a really good one, but so is Vampire Diaries."

"Vampire Diaries?" Alice questioned.

I groaned, "No! Please tell me you've never watched Vampire Diaries!"

Alice flashed a guilty smile, "Never even heard of it."

"Jasper?" I growled playfully.

"Nope."

I sighed, "That's it, I'm going to make sure you two watch it."

Alice giggled, "Do you want to come over to our house to watch it?"

"Do you have Netflix?" I asked.

She lifted a delicate eyebrow. "What's Netflix?"

She had to be kidding me.

I breathed in dramatically, "It's official Alice. I'm going to make your entire family watch it."

Alice grinned.

-----------------

Alice, Jasper, and I were walking to the lunch table when a snowball came out of nowhere, smacking into the back of Jasper's head.

I turned around and saw Emmett and Edward there, already making more snowballs.

I ducked behind Jasper, "Jasper, you're my shield."

Jasper chuckled, making his own snowball. Alice, somehow, already had seven made and held one out to me.

I took it gingerly, feeling the cold slush in my hand. It wasn't even really proper snow at the moment.

I flung it, hitting Emmett in the chest.

Emmett growled playfully, "You're going to pay for that one Michaelson."

I squealed, ducking behind Jasper again, clutching the back of his jacket. "Jasper!" I whined.

I could hear Jasper laughing his ass off, his body shaking as he made more snowballs, flinging them at Emmett and Edward.

And then Emmett and Edward were closing in on Jasper, Alice, and I. Rosalie was watching from the sidelines, a scowl on her face, probably because Emmett was getting all wet.

Jasper spun, picking me up in his arms- to my surprise- and making a mad dash for the cafeteria while I yelped. Alice dashed next to us and then Jasper put me down once we made it inside. I giggled, clutching Alice's arm. "We escaped!"

"Do you want to sit with us today?" Alice asked with a grin.

"Sure." I said. "Why not?"

I went up to get food. I made it simple today. Just cola and a bag of chips.

I sat back down at the table next to Jasper, opening the soda and chips and started to eat. All five of them had matching stainless steel canteens and were drinking out of them instead of eating anything.

"Our Aunt made us Tomato soup." Edward said, noticing my stare.

"Your Aunt?" I asked with surprise.

"Yes, Carlisle's sister Esme." Alice chirped.

"Er-"

"Dr. Cullen. His first name is Carlisle." Edward said.

What the fuck? His name was actually really hot sounding.

Oh wait, no, I was supposed to not care. I almost didn't get the internship because of the secretary's jealousy. It would look bad if I thought he was hot. So no, not hot. Not hot at all.

"Oh." I said, nodding before popping a Cheeto in my mouth. "I see."

I started feeling rather comfortable with them, which was something I was scared of. The only person I had ever really been close to had been Sam and him. And as he'd betrayed me, I really didn't want to get close to anyone else.

But I wasn't really viewing them as friends, not really. They all seemed like kids to me, like children. Like my children and that started to scare me even more. I didn't like the unusual feelings. I didn't like not knowing my emotions.

"What book were you reading yesterday?" Edward asked me.

"Oh, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." I answered and then blushed. "I like the original book, but I also prefer anything supernatural so adding zombies to the classic was perfect."

"Why would someone ruin a classic like that?" Alice asked, scrunching her nose.

I scoffed, "Ruin. You obviously haven't read it. It's amazing. Here." I fished the book out of my bag and handed it to her. "I want that back when you're done with it."

Alice took it from me, scrutinizing the gruesome cover. "Do you just like horror?"

I thought about it. "I don't know. Horror doesn't really scare me. I love reading it. But mystical creatures is more my jam, specifically vampires, werewolves, witches, unicorns, dragons, those sorts of things."

Rosalie made a scoffing sound.

"What would you rather be?" Emmett asked in excitement. "A vampire or a werewolf?"

Rosalie shot daggers at him and I think she thought I might've been trying to steal Emmett's attention which wasn't my plan at all. Like I've mentioned before, Emmett is big, obviously very safe, but he looks like a blockhead, and his looks aren't my type.

Edward snorted at that moment, covering it up with his hand. I wondered what he thought was funny.

But besides, I was thinking of them like my children. Scary, scary thought.

"Umm both." I stated.

"Both?" Emmett rolled his eyes. "You can't be both."

"You're another one that needs to watch Vampire Diaries." I muttered under my breath making Alice and Jasper laugh.

"But that's a movie!" Emmett protested.

"TV show." I corrected him.

"Besides," Rosalie said with a scoff, "It's not like they exist in real life either."

I grinned, "Of course it is happening inside your head, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?"

Emmett, Alice, Jasper, and Rosalie looked at me blankly while Edward grinned and I looked at him expectantly.

"Were you quoting Dumbledore?" He asked, sounding like he was about to start laughing.

I was silent for a moment before breaking out into a smile, "Edward. Congratulations. You are officially my favorite Cullen."

-----------------

It was after school. I had mis read the chart yesterday and realized that I actually had last period gym- which kind've sucked because if it had been fifth period, I could've left before anyone else. Instead, I had to wait around fifth period and then go to class at sixth period and leave with everyone else.

During fifth period, I sat at the lunch table and read a backup book that I had brought with me- The Starless Sea.

It was a very interesting book, introduced with three short stories before switching to the point of view of the main character. The third story being about him and he wonders how he ended up in the book. And then he discovers that there is an underground library which is connected by three symbols: A key, a Sword, and a Bee. There are technically three other symbols- Crown, Feather, and Heart- but those don't have as much depth as the other three.

I kind've wished I could be in this world because it was just like the real world, except there were doors all over the world that led to this underground library. I would never have left the underground library if I was in the world.

In gym, I discovered that Bella was in my class, and I started talking to her. She was terrible at Volleyball, but it also seemed that she was incapable of even walking in a straight line without tripping over her own two feet so there was that.

I hated Volleyball. I wasn't necessarily bad at it, but I wasn't very good at serving and I hated the red spots I got on my wrists from hitting the ball like that.

Back on the army base, we used to play a form of Volleyball that was called 'newcom'. Basically, you caught and threw the ball. You would try not to let the other team catch the ball. If the ball landed in the sand, whoever was closest to the ball was out. You could get team mates back in by catching the ball one handed. If you dropped the ball though (one handed catch or not) you were out. If you threw the ball out of bounds, you were out.

I mostly tried covering for Bella, but it was a bit of a hazard. At least when she fell down, she didn't take me with her.

Once class ended, we headed to the locker rooms. I dressed quickly and found myself walking out with Bella.

"Hi. I haven't really introduced myself. I'm Davina." I said.

"Yeah, I know. I'm Bella." She said quietly.

I smiled a bit. "You're new?"

"Yeah, I moved here from Phoenix."

For a girl from the south, she was quite pale. Almost as pale as the Cullens.

"Kentucky." I said, not mentioning which part of Kentucky I was from. As she was from a big city, it was possibly she had heard about Fort Knox and I didn't really want that getting out here.

She stared at my face for a little bit and then said, "Nice. Why'd you move here?"

I shrugged, "I needed to be on my own. That's all. My parents had a house here so I'm living in it now. You?"

"It's complicated." Bella said.

"Isn't it always?" I asked sardonically and we both laughed a little.

She stopped walking, next to a orange pick up truck. "This your ride?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, my friend Jacob fixed the engine himself. His father Billy is friends with my father." Bella explained.

"Jacob Black?" I asked.

"You know him?"

I moved my head back and forth, "Kind've. I know his father and his older sisters more. I hung out with Sam Uley more though. I kind've remember you. Mud pies."

Bella grinned a little, "I think I remember you, but I'd be lying if I said I completely remembered you."

We both laughed for a moment and then I heard this awful screeching of tires. I turned to see an SUV barreling down, having skidded on a patch of ice.

I reacted quickly, grabbing Bella by the arm, hauling her upwards into the truck bed and then dodging to the side as the Suv hit the truck. I didn't get completely out of the way, the car nudging my leg- a pain shooting up it- and I'd hit the corner of the truck with my rib. I thought that would be it, but the damned car decided it wanted to flip over and I wasn't going to be quick enough to get out of it's way.

The car landed on my right leg as I was almost jerked out of the way.

"Davina?" Jasper's voice.

"Where the hell did you come from?" I groaned in pain. I saw him lift the car inches above the ground to slide my leg out from underneath it. I pretended not to notice.

Luckily, it wasn't bleeding- much- just hurting a lot. I didn't think it was broken though- well maybe. My wrist was certainly sprained though from taking the landing that I did.

Edward was standing in the truck bed, helping Bella to her feet.

"The ambulance is on it's way." Edward informed Bella and me.

"I'm okay, really." Bella muttered. "Davina got me out of the way. How did you do that?"

"What? Lifted you into the truck. Well, for starters. . ." my head spun and I cut off before my sight returned and I said. ". . .you're light. And I've lifted heavier stuff. Plus. . .adrenaline."

Shit, what the hell did I do to my head? It hurt so badly, my sight spinning. I blacked out into Jasper's arms.

[honorarybuckley]

maddie calls chimney first. he answers before the phone can ring even once.

“maddie? what happened? is he...” he can’t bear to complete that sentence. doesn’t want to jinx it with the word alive and can’t believe in a world where he’s dead.

“he’s waking up, howie.” a smile starts to bloom, heard in her voice and coloring her face with relief and awe. chimney lets out a whoop loud enough that he’s probably woken up jee. he doesn’t really care if he wakes up the entire world right now because the one person who needed to wake up the most finally has. albert runs in from the other room and chim gives him a thumbs up. albert smiles and leaves, presumably to tell sang and myung the good news.

“he started breathing on his own after a few seconds and now he’s in and out of consciousness. they’re going to want to do tests but everything looks good at the moment.” maddie sits on a chair in the waiting room, unwilling to stray too far from buck’s room or their parents’ sides. it’s the first time in days the space hasn’t been haunted by a stream of visitors for buck. she’d finally convinced everyone to wait at home for the news, knowing that the weight of their collective grief could level the hospital if things had gone the other way. she should know better than to underestimate her baby brother.

“when can we come see him?” chim asks, wiping a rogue tear off his cheek, already making plans. he’ll need to ask his dad and myung to watch jee-yun. albert will probably want to go to the hospital. his skin feels tight at the thought of leaving his daughter alone with his father even if it’s not the first time this week, but he knows that it’s the decision that makes the most sense and his need to see buck outweighs his discomfort at the moment.

“not until the morning,” maddie sighs, a knowing note in her tone that anticipates his impatience. “he'll be out of it for a while longer and then they won’t move him out of the icu until they’ve run all their tests. i will probably be home late tonight and we can come in together, ok?”

“got it.” chimney bounces on the balls of his feet, suddenly full of energy. he can wait eighteen hours. totally. “uh, what about you? do you need anything? what can i do?”

“i’m fine chim,” she promises, “but could you maybe call everyone else? i want to get back to him.”

“yeah, yeah. sure thing.” he makes his way to jee’s room to check on her just to have something to do with his body. “go back and give him our love. let him know the swarm is coming,” he laughs.

“thanks, chim, love you.”

“i love you too.”

—————

chimney knows he should start with bobby but the frenetic thrum in his blood needs to hear hen’s soothing voice so he dials her first.

“chim? has maddie called?” hen asks as soon as she picks up, steady as ever.

“he’s awake.”

instantly hen’s facade crumbles and without warning, she starts crying. karen rushes in from the kitchen at the sound, a potato peeler still in her hand. hen does her best to smile for her wife and it’s enough for karen. for now. she comes to sit with her and hen clings. for days she’s tried to be strong, be the support for everyone around her as they try to keep it together, only letting her fears out once she goes home to her wife at the end of the day. but with two words it all becomes dust.

“hen? hey, it’s okay. i said he’s awake,” chim repeats as if she’d heard him wrong. past her heavy breathing, she can practically hear him pacing. while she tries to pull the pieces of herself spilling out on the floor back together, chim keeps talking, excited and concerned.

“maddie says we can see him first thing tomorrow. they should have him in a room by then. i’m not going to bother with shifts, i doubt anyone would stick to them anyway. they’ll just have to deal with all of us." the pattern of hen’s breathing has calmed and she even chuckles softly at the mental image of the full force of the 118 crowding into a tiny hospital room. “he’s gonna be okay, hen.”

karen cups hen’s cheek in her damp hand and wipes a thumb through the path of her tears before kissing her once on each cheek. she silently slips back into the kitchen.

“i can’t believe it,” hen admits, the familiar haunting image of buck’s body hanging above them all invading her mind like an unwanted guest.

“i know,” chimney sighs. “one day his luck is gonna run out.”

they sit in the eerie, weighted silence that thought deserves for a moment.

“not today, though.”

“‘there is only one thing we say to death,’” chim quips. hen snorts and rolls her eyes but doesn’t respond. “ok, ok. well i need to go call bobby and eddie but could you do me a favor?”

warmed and only slightly surprised at being his first call, hen hums in affirmation.

“could you swing by the firehouse at shift change and let them know? i know collins wanted to come see buck and i bet there are a few others who’d like to tag along.”

“they’re going to kick us out, you know.” hen stands, ready to go tell denny the good news.

“let them try.”

—————

bobby is next and oddly doesn’t answer. he calls back before chimney can redial though.

“how is he?” a heavy door closes behind him and chimney can hear road noise nearby.

“where are you?” he asks, his curiosity enough to distract him.

“at church. chim, how is he?” bobby repeats, a thread of desperation in his voice. he sidesteps a couple entering the building, absentmindedly rolling his rosary between his fingers.

“oh, right, sorry.” chimney knocks his fist against his forehead twice. “he’s awake, cap.”

bobby’s breath gets caught in his throat, the world is abruptly knocked back on its axis and it nearly sends him to the ground.

chimney begins to wonder if he was really the correct person to be responsible for spreading this news. first he breaks hen and now bobby.

“bobby? are you ok? do you need me to come pick you up or something?”

“no, no i’m fine," bobby reassures, still breathless. “he’s awake.”

it isn’t a question but chimney responds anyway to help cement this moment in reality for them both. “yeah, he’s awake.”

bobby nods even though he knows chimney can’t see him. he stands frozen, caught somewhere between running home to athena and going back inside for another prayer, just in case, just to say thank you.

“so we’re all meeting at the hospital at eleven for visiting hours,” chim continues, not entirely sure bobby is listening. “i assume i’ll see you there?”

“i wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

—————

finally, it’s time to call eddie.

chim takes a moment to prepare himself, unsure of what to expect from this particular conversation. after very nearly breaking in the moments following the lightning strike, eddie had walked the halls of the hospital like a ghost in the following days. unable to enter buck’s room but unwilling to leave, he instead went on coffee run after coffee run and in between stared blankly into space as if he were already in mourning. in a way he was.

the phone rings once, twice, then a third and fourth time. chimney is expecting to hear eddie’s voicemail message when the call finally connects.

“yeah?”

chim freezes. eddie sounds even more rough than a breathless bobby, than hen after she broke down in tears. unable to see the stoic look on his face, chimney can better hear the pain in eddie’s voice. so sharp it cuts at chimney’s heart until it’s bleeding through his fingers.

eddie sucks in a deep, shuddering breath against the silence. “oh god.” he falls back onto his couch but it feels as though he’d missed it entirely and is just continuously falling. he’d known this was coming he’d just thought—

“oh shit, no eddie,” chim rushes to say. he definitely shouldn’t have been the one to make this call. “he’s fine. he’s awake,” he repeats for what feels like the millionth time today. it’s never felt more hollow.

eddie takes another deep breath and pinches the bridge of his nose to stave off the tears he can feel coming. it’s a losing battle. he roughly swipes at one when it begins to fall as his thoughts start to spiral.

images of buck swaying lifelessly just out of reach and laying so still hooked up to endless machines have all but painted over every happy memory eddie has of him, dimming his effortless light into something gray and isolating. he’s never felt as alone as he has in these past few days, even when surrounded by his family, there was always that empty space growing bigger.

but buck is alive and what’s more, he’s awake. his light is burning bright again and eddie would give anything to see it right now.

“eddie?” myung enters the kitchen and chimney quietly slips outside to offer eddie some privacy. “did you hear me?”

“yeah,” his voice breaks. another tear falls and this one he lets go, carving a path for others to follow. he’s glad carla isn’t back yet with chris. he needs time to pull himself together but for now, he lets himself feel it. to ache with the knowledge that just across town, buck’s eyes are finally open. “he’s awake.” he’s awake he’s awake he’s awake.

“yeah, buddy.” chim can tell that he needs to get off the phone soon. to let eddie process this news in his own way. “we can’t see him until the morning but we’re all heading over when visiting hours start.” it’s on the tip of his tongue to ask if eddie will be there but he knows there’s no need.

“i’ll have to pull christopher from school,” eddie says suddenly. “he’ll never forgive me if i don’t let him come.”

“yeah, probably,” chim laughs, surprised by the change in subject. it’s a good note to leave on he thinks. “well, i should probably go, unless...”

“i’m fine, man. promise,” he adds for good measure, scrubbing a hand over his face. “i’ll see you tomorrow.”

chimney says goodbye and eddie hangs up the phone letting it fall to the sofa beside him. tomorrow. it’s promised to no one, but just this once eddie is positive the sun will continue to rise.

[idreamofhazeleyes]

Written in Blood Ch 5

@mrswhozeewhatsis @impala-dreamer @idreamofplaid @squirrelnotsam @winchestergirl-13 @spnfanficpond

Chapter 5 

She stood before me with her arms crossed. There was a look on her face that reminded me of the one that Mom used when I snuck back into the house. The look dropped when Emily took another moment to look me over.  

“What happened?” Concern in her voice. 

“A rabid animal attacked and ...” 

Emily started moving and turned me around to face the door.  

I resisted her attempts and turned back around. “What the hell?” 

“Rabid animal means you need to get tested. Come on, we’re going to the hospital.” 

“I’m fine, seriously, Em. I don’t need the hospital. The animal didn’t bite me.” 

“That injury...” 

“It’s not that bad.” I winced as I moved my left arm in the attempt to lift it up. “See?” I got it up level with the floor before stopping due to the pain. 

“Not that bad, huh? Come on, let me see it.” 

I didn’t fight when Emily stepped up to look at the wounds. A hiss escaped when she pressed on the intact skin.  

“What the fuck happened? And don’t pull an animal attack.” 

“You wouldn’t believe me.” I side stepped around her into our room. I wanted to shed the torn shirt and change into comfortable clothing for the night. “You remember those so called animal attacks? It was a werewolf.” 

Emily huffed. “You’re right. I don’t believe you.” She crossed her arms. “But say I believe you for the moment. The werewolf did that to you? How?” 

I flopped on my bed and struggled through the pain to free my pants. After a couple minutes, the pain won out and I fell back. I didn’t fight Emily when she lifted up a leg to help.  

“I fought it,” I answered. “Don’t ask me why I trusted these guys. They were here hunting the werewolf.” I lifted my head. “The thing that’s tripping me up is that the werewolf was a person. He was in one of my classes today. He looked horrible, like whatever he was going through was driving him into the ground.” 

My legs fell with dead weight once free of the pants. 

“And these two guys let you fight a werewolf on your own? Chivalry is dead.” 

“The werewolf had my scent. I may have...” I pushed myself up to sit. “Stumbled upon him the other night when he was feeding. There was no way the Hunters were going to get close to the monster.” 

Emily gestured for me to lift my arms. “And it fell to you to kill the monster? Convenient.” She lifted the tee shirt up and off before tossing it into the trash. “You know people are gonna talk.” 

A sigh escaped as I eased my lounge pants on. “Yeah. They can talk. No one is going to believe the real thing anyway. You don’t.” I sat there for a few moments as my mind replayed the events.  

The nerves that twisted my stomach as I stared at Jordan. The meager conversation we had before he caught my scent and gave chase. Barely getting the machete and getting backhanded. My life flashing before my eyes as the claws came down.  

“Aeryn. Hey, Aeryn.” Emily’s voice cut into the spiral my mind was going. “You’re not okay. Maybe take the day tomorrow and relax. Tell your professors and work that you saw the monster kill and need the day.” 

“I can’t afford either of those. I’m not a trust fund student here on mommy and daddy’s dime.” 

I had gotten lucky with getting scholarships and worked hard to ensure that I got accepted and stayed on top of everything. Small town girl attempting to do better in her life and all that.  

The nightmares kept me on the edge of falling completely asleep, yet I woke to the sun just creeping into the windows. My shoulder stiffened during the night. Which made changing for the day harder, yet I managed to dress and headed out for the day.  

I dared to walk past the area where I took down the werewolf. For as much as John and Dean helped with taking the creature down, they didn’t do much in helping me get back into normal life. Maybe there was no getting back to normal life. There was no forgetting that the things went bump in the night were real.  

Emily was right that people were going to talk. I hadn’t realized that there had been a couple students that had managed to take pictures of the fight between me and the werewolf. “Hey, Morgan,” a male voice spoke just as the owner sat down. “You hear about this fight last night?” 

I shook my head, playing dumb. “What fight, Ryan?” 

“Someone got brave and faced off against the monster.” He pulled out his cell and showed me pictures someone had sent him. The pictures were grainy and didn’t show me or the werewolf in great detail. Which worked in my favor since I did not want attention for facing the monster.  

I adjusted my text book and notebook in an attempt to play off my nerves. “It’s gotta be staged.” 

“From what I heard, the person in the pictures screamed when the monster swiped at them. One claimed that the person managed to behead the thing. There’s no way that happened.” 

“Well, there’s pictures,” I offered up. “Isn’t that enough proof?” 

“Not well enough. If this person did manage to behead the monster, they had good luck.” 

I wondered how long it would hold out for me. The students settled in for the lesson as the teacher started talking. The thought of looking into news articles that seemed to be out of place passed through my mind.  

After facing off with the werewolf, I should have stayed well away from hunting. I didn’t. School and work came first. There were a few cases that I was able to work in the area. Emily helped with getting a driver’s license. She didn’t fully believe me about what happened that night. She believed me that I fought something dangerous and that I was going to find more like it. Having a license would help with that. It was up to me in getting a car.  

Between food, schooling not covered by my scholarships, and other items, a car was the last thing on my list. Yet I squirreled away what I could. In a couple years I managed to save up enough for a car that was reliable enough for local travel. It got me around well enough in the city and to the few cases I managed to work between classes and work.  

Two years had passed since the night I took down the werewolf. Despite an investigation by the police and university, no one was able to find his body. Guilt tore at me while I kept quiet. His family would never get closure for what happened to him. Yet it was better knowing that he had to lose his life than another being killed for his hunger.  

That guilt did not help with the early morning traffic I was battling. I was pushing late to my commencement ceremony. It was a stupid decision to take on the case so close to the ceremony. I had to drive through the night from the Lansing area to make it. The case took a turn when the spirit refused to move on. I still had grave dirt on me. There was no time to shower.  

I got lucky in finding a parking spot near the stadium and darted inside with my clothes, cap, and gown. Finding a restroom, I washed off the dirt at a sink before speed changing in a stall. I hopped out of the stall and restroom in the attempt to get the second dress shoe. I found the area where I was to walk with my graduating class gathered before the walk just in time. I managed to slip into an spot between a couple people close to my height just before stepping into a tent. 

Each of the students were having their pictures taken before we stepped out. My stomach twisted from anxiety and hope that I did not look as bad as I thought I did from the hunt. With the picture taken, I stepped out onto the football field and the collective cheers of families and friends. I had called my own family about the ceremony back in January. Mother had answered and congratulated me on graduating. She said that she, Father, and Taylor would be at the ceremony.  

The relationship between our parents had been strange for a number of years. Neither of them fully explained what brought them to that point. Sure, they love each other. Yet there was something under the surface. I have vague memories of their relationship changing after Taylor was born. Our parents had shown both of us love despite whatever was between them.  

There was little chance I would be able to pick out three people in a crowd of a hundred thousand people. All there to support their own graduates. It was nice to know my parents and brother were there. Eventually we all got to our seats and I half slumped in mine from exhaustion. My brain was on the edge of unconsciousness throughout the five or six speeches, just aware enough to come around when it came time for receiving our diplomas. My eyes blinked a little as I fully woke up and stood.  

“Aeryn Malone,” one of the academic staff members spoke; their voice echoing slightly in the sound system thanks to the microphone.  

I willed myself to not trip up the stairs as I climbed to the stage. I paused long enough to shake the hand of another staff member while accepting the diploma cover for a picture. Finishing crossing the stage and down the other side and stairs, I returned to the row my chair was in. Another half hour past before the rest of the students sitting behind me. I used that time to snooze, my mind aware enough of my surroundings.  

Eventually the last student sat down and the dean stood and made his last remarks. At some cue, we the student body stood and began our walk from the field. One of the students next to me nudged me awake. Half jumping to my feet, I closed the gap and followed the person in front of me. The walk off the field seemed to take longer, yet we made it inside the stadium. 

It took me longer than expected to make my way through the crowds to where me and my family agreed to meet up after the ceremony. 

“Aeryn!” Tyler’s voice called over the noise of the other families and students.  

I turned at his voice as my lips pulled into a smile. He wore a nice polo styled shirt, denim jeans, and tennis shoes. Our parents were a few steps behind him as they worked through the crowd. My lips pulled into a smile as I stepped into the hug Tyler offered as we closed the gap between us. We pulled apart a minute later before I hugged my parents one by one.  

“We’re so proud of you,” Mom said as she pulled away.  

“Do you know where you want to start looking for jobs?” Dad asked. There was something in his voice that told me that he was expecting to be paid all the money he spent on my four year college career.  

“I just graduated, dad,” I countered. “Allow me time to start searching.” 

“You had weeks before now. What have you been doing?” 

“Gary, enough,” Mom chimed in. “Today’s about celebrating Aeryn’s success.” 

“Success at bleeding me...” 

“Knock it off, Dad,” Tyler cut in. “You didn’t have to be here.” 

Dad turned to Tyler. “You don’t belong...” 

Anger rose up as I stepped between them. The past couple years of hunting and the scars on my shoulder gave me the courage to face down dad. “Stop it. This day is meant to be a celebration. I’m not going to stand here and let you put the both of us down. Now, you can leave or be quiet and go to lunch with us.” 

Dad went silent even as he glared at me. I matched his gaze and dared him to do something. Eventually he broke our silent battle and walked away. Tyler and Mom stood there in silence for a moment or two.  

“Well,” Mom started. “Let’s go have lunch.” She turned and started for an exit. 

“He’s gotten worse,” Tyler said low enough for me to hear as we followed. “I honestly don’t get it. There’s something between our parents that’s changed. More than before.” 

Lunch was tense. Tyler attempted to keep the conversation going despite Dad still being quiet from earlier. Mom chimed in when she had a question or a comment, though generally kept quiet. Lunch was over within an hour and we headed back to my apartment. I had been smart in packing all my things save a change of clothes and a few other things before going on the hunt. 

I had gone back up to double check nothing was being left when Emily walked in. She stopped when she noticed me.  

“So, this is it,” she said.  

“I guess so,” I agreed. “Thank you for helping me the past couple years. I doubt I’d make it to this point if it wasn’t for you.” 

“I hope when I call for help facing off a ghost, you’ll come.” Emily gave a nervous chuckle. 

I smiled. “I will do my best.” I moved toward her as I raised my arms in the attempt of a hug.  

She stepped in and returned the hug. Something told me that my life has changed again.

<<Chapter Four>> <<Chapter Six>>

[bihansthot]

Fuck global warming, it’s 52 in February in Michigan! All I needed this morning was my hoodie and it was fucking HOT in the hospital but I was cheeky and didn’t wear a bra today because of my oversized hoodie and man did I regret it, my big naturals need a bra lol I had my annual heart appointment this morning though so I would have had to take it off anyway so I said fuck it entirely. This morning was so stressful, my blood draw was really easy so very thankful for that but the hospital app was down this morning so we didn’t know where to go and the front desk sent us to the main hospital’s PET scan department when I apparently needed to be in the PET scan department in the cardiovascular center. So, I had to walk all over the various buildings to finally get to the right department and was a tad late but thankfully I was the only appointment so it wasn’t a big deal. For fucking once in my life they got the IV in the first try 😭 I almost cried, I’m such a hard stick it usually takes 4-5 attempts to start an IV on me. So, I was very thankful it went in so easily, it burned really badly though, or at least the medication did. They inject you with radioactive dye to make everything show up and then give you medication to simulate exercise all while you’re in an MRI machine to get imaging of the heart. It’s such a weird sensation, you go from half falling asleep to suddenly feeling like your sprinting in seconds, it’s not necessarily unpleasant but it is odd but like I mentioned earlier the medication burned quite a bit going in. The imaging was apparently sufficient even though the drug didn’t do its job as well as it was supposed to because they sent me home in a timely fashion. I got back home and took a very long nap and apparently the girl who wrapped my IV didn’t wrap it tight enough because the dresssing was soaked in blood when I took it off later. It’s bruised but not awfully. All in all things went better than they could have. Downside my labs aren’t good at all. My tacrolimus level is an 8 it’s supposed to be between 4-6, so that’s not good but reasonably easy to fix, they’ll just lower my dose again and repeat labs next week most likely. The really bad thing though is my liver is crazy out of whack again, which really blows. It might be as easily explained as my enzymes are spiked because I just got over the flu but last time it was this high is when I had CMV. I’ll get my results for the CMV test tomorrow. In more news no one cares about but I over share is my parathyroid is very high which is actually good because it finally explains my chronic fatigue and weird appetite lately. Hopefully they can get it under control and my energy levels will return and I might be able to do things again. In small good things my kidneys are stable, they’re stage 3b kidney failure but they’ve also been there for like 7 years so they’re not getting worse, dance party time.

TL:DR: I’m still dying slowly but instead of just my heart and kidneys doing the dirty work now my liver is back on board for murder too.

[return0fpluto]

Please for the love of the stars, if a doctor mistreats you and you're able to,

report it.

Story under the cut, CW for urgent cares, potential medication interactions, and medical malpractice

TL;DR: Doctor gave us dangerous meds, called our mother diabetic, pretty sure he got in massive trouble or is about to and good

There will be a green separation where the problems end and the consequences for medical malpractice start so if you can't do the whole thing, scrolling until you see green is also an option

Two days ago, this past Saturday, our mother took us to the Memorial Health Urgent Care Center next door to us. We were both fatigued, sore/scratchy throat, and overall felt awful and knew we needed medical attention. When checked, both of us had low fevers and were ushered into the back where we waited for a doctor.

It's important to note that 2 days before that, Thursday, our father went to that exact urgent care with pretty much the same symptoms, and was given a Medrol Dosepak, an steroid anti-inflammatory that works wonders for functioning until whatever you have has run it's course

The doctor walks in, after the swab for strep throat came back negative, and looks over us and the body's mother. "Seems like an upper respatory infection," he says, "I'll send you home with some cough syrup." The body's mother asks if either of us, particularly us (singular), could have a Medrol Dosepak, as they help and she knows they help

It would've been well within his rights to say no, and explain why he did. Instead, he said that he "doesn't prescribed Medrol Dosepaks" and that was that, he'd send us home with non-steroid treatment

He then came back into the room a couple minutes later and told our mother that he definitely wouldn't give her any steroid treatments, as she's diabetic and they could raise her blood sugar

Our mother is not diabetic. She's on metformin for former pre-diabetes that she doesn't even meet the threshold for anymore. This doctor saw a fat, mid-60s lady and decided she must be diabetic

He prescribed us each the following:

• 200 mg of Tessalon Perles (our mother had some from her regular doctor at half the dose, and this doctor was also going to give us, at least 100 lbs lighter, the same dose of 200 mg)

• A psudophedrine cough syrup after both of us expressed that we were taking Sudafed pills already (psudophedrine is basically the Cold & Sinus bit of Advil Cold & Sinus)

• 60 mg of Ibuprofen (WE (singular) ARE ON AN NSAID ALREADY. TAKING THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A HIGHLY DANGEROUS DOSE)

If our mother hadn't looked through those, or had been less informed, we would've ended up in the hospital at the very least. We would've most likely sustained serious and potentially life threatening injuries from those medications.

No other tests were done.

Less than an hour after we got home, we were both running high fevers and felt even worse. Our mother was able to safely drive us (thankfully) to the Holy Cross Urgent Care in the town over, where she had been able to make an appointment (side note, we remember none of this. We were texting a friend at the time and our memories come from re-reading those and recounts from other people, because we had an 100+° fever after Tylenol when we run cold).

It was COVID

We had COVID, both of us

This new doctor explained that an anti-inflammatory would stop our immune response and potentially make us sicker/more susceptible to long-term damage. He suggested things that could help, as well as listening to what our mother planned on taking and giving us, and said he could prescribe something but didn't need to, as that's about all he could've given us anyways.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Our mother sent messages to the Memorial support line from both of us explaining how the first doctor dismissed us out of hand and then prescribed us both that were flat-out dangerous, and I don't care if it was actual concern for patient wellbeing or fear of being sued, but today or tomorrow someone came/is coming out to talk to that doctor at minimum, and possibly get him in legal/medical board trouble.

Even if it's fear of a lawsuit, higher ups need to hear when a doctor is being negligent or dangerous

Please, please don't worry about being a "Karen", this is your LIFE on the line, you are allowed to be pissed if a doctor is toying with it even unintentionally!!

[theretirementstory]

02/06/2024. 😱 it’s June already! Looking back 5 years when I visited this beautiful old house with Monique, in Rosnay-l’Hopital. Did they really have the red carpet out for us? It was a glorious day, we had had a BBQ in Monique’s garden, a little snooze then a visit to the house.

Fast forward to this day last year and it was the day I came home from hospital after spending 4 weeks in there. I am not ashamed to say I cried, when I saw my town, my house and my garden, it was all that had kept me going those long four weeks.

However, I am home now, the gardener came on Tuesday and cut the grass which has made a big difference to the garden. My cherry tree, which was laden with cherries, have all been snaffled up by the birds while we were waiting for them to ripen. The birds have kindly left the stones and stalks still attached to the branches. Oh well, I guess what you never have, you never miss! The hellebore has another couple of flowers on and the rose bushes are budding so more roses soon.

I was in Paris at the hospital on Monday, a very tiring journey there and back 6.5 hours in total but at least I was only at the hospital for 2.5 hours. Tomorrow I am there again this time for a CT scan and possibly a transfusion or transfusions. I was also in hospital at Troyes for the day on Friday as the results of my blood tests showed my levels to be very very low and two transfusions were needed. As a consequence I have to relax this weekend (whatever that means).

Being unable to drive for two months, as well as being so fatigued that I couldn’t even make it round the supermarket, I have had my neighbour doing the supermarket shopping and Anie went and purchased my fruit and vegetables. It’s wonderful that these people really don’t mind helping me out.

Although I could use the cleaning lady to do my upstairs, I couldn’t cope with her chuntering. Normally her days are Monday and Thursday and it looks as if these are going to be my days for the hospital so it’s no use asking her to come. I will just make do or as Monique has volunteered I may take her up on it. She also volunteered to come and tidy my borders.

I have an English friend (lives in France) coming to visit on Tuesday. I would like to make something to eat but don’t think I have the energy, so it may just be cake and biscuits and a drink.

“The Trainee Solicitor” started his Uni course on Thursday. It seemed to go well. He decided to “let the train take the strain” and although it means leaving home early in the morning it does mean that he can work, eat and drink while travelling. The course is for six weeks the number of days vary week on week but once it’s done, it’s done!

“The Reconnect Navigator” has had a pretty trying week, some weeks can be like that so let’s hope that next week is less “trying”. It was her Grandads birthday yesterday, so it was all round to his house for a party. Let’s hope there are not too many headaches this morning 😊.

My gorgeous grandchildren have had a wonderful break in Buxton, Derbyshire with their Mummy and their Grandad who was over from Canada. They are now spending the weekend with “The Photographer”. They are pretty tired from their adventures, where they saw penguins, wallabies and lots of different animals. “The Photographer” was out on the election canvassing trail on Thursday, he was doing photos for his friend who is standing for Parliamentary MP locally.

“The Jetsetter” has her feet planted on terra firma for a little while longer. A friend was doing a charity bike ride so she and “The Photographer” went to see them finish the ride, of course photographs were involved. Although the week involved a Bank Holiday it appears as if it was a busy week all the same.

I know I seem to be stuck in the 1970’s for a lot of my music but that’s how it goes and then when you realise that these tunes are almost 50 years old it’s a bit scary. Anyway here are two more this week.

The first is by ELO from their 1976 album “A New World Record” it’s “So Fine”.

The second has not been so easy to think of so many songs buzz through my head.

So I am choosing “Stay With Me Till Dawn” by Judie Tzuke from 1979.

Lots to do today, preparing for tomorrow morning’s journey to Paris. The taxi is coming for me at 5:30am, keep your fingers crossed that it is only a short visit to the hospital but somehow I doubt it!

Wishing you all a good week until next week.

The garden looking lush and green.

Prends soin de toi.

[weirdboi]

Lucifer lore/part 2/ -THIS MAY INCLUDE VIOLENCE BLOOD, MURDER ECT

If ur not comfortable with these pla leave

•Recovery

In Luci's brain a blurry picture was playing. It was showing some monster hands dragging a body of a child, slowly opening the child's mouth and putting it's arms in it. Suddenly, they woke up, all sweaty and shaking. Doctors were so surprised! Soon they dud some tests on Lucifer and later called his mom to pick him up. When Monica came she was so happy that her child is alright, but Luci still needed a lot time for recover. First, they needed to remember how to write and read again, then how to speak, how to walk, how to remember family members and loved once and other stuff. After ''full'' recovery Lucifer noticed something strange. They started feeling more angry and wanted to hurt ppl.

•Age 14

At this time Luci was a real teenage dirt bag. One day he woke up and saw hsi mom panicking in the living room and dad talking on the phone. They had no idea what was going on. But when they looked out of the window everything was clear. The neighbours broke down their gate. How could they! And this qas not the first time neighbours would do such a thing. Lucifer was getting bullied at school 24/7 . Plus the neighbours didn't like the family cause of Monica being German. Months passed by and in the end luckily, through all the courts and payings, the gate was finally back and now stable. But that doesn't mean that neighbours were being any nicer. In fact they were even worse! Because of that horrible behaviour Luci made a plan how to make 'em pay. One night Luci got a lighter from her father...

And burned a bit of the Woods that were near the house. Soon everything was on fire! Neighbours called the fire fighters who slowly started putting the house down. In 2 am police took Lucifer and Monica to the station. In the court it was decided for Lucifer and his family to move somewhere else. After those news Octavius yelled the hell out on Lucifer and told them really shitty stuff. They had a week to choose where are they going. After calling family members and checking the money situation, Monica and Octavius decided to move to America.

Luckily Monica's sister lived there and paid for everything. The next week they got their card and papers and moved away.

•Someone special

Days went by and Luci really felt like home. He knew English really good, didn't have problems with understand and finding places and no problems with the crowds. But, in school he was quite a trouble maker, with great grades tho. Only grades were getting him out of trouble. After few school switching cause of big fights and sending a Lot of kids to hospital, Luci finally started middle school, but this time.. with Moe! They went to same middle school and Moe was so happy that his closest cousin isn't that far away anymore. One night when Luci was getting home from detention he heard some noise. He was curious and decided to follow it. She got to the place where noise was coming from and it turns out it was a shark... It was all beaten up. Luci came near it to help.

"Oml Are u alr??"

"Y-yes it's just a scratch..."said shark

"Umm don't worry I have sum... bandages if that is gonna any how.. "

"Nono no u Don't have-"

"Oh don't be silly, u need help and I can help u"- said Luci i and started helping the shark out. After that he asked the shark where he lives and Shark told him he can come yo the docks near "Molly's café". As he said that Luci took shark and started carrying him. On the way they talked about a lot of things.

"And I didn't catch ur name..?"

"It's Lucifer. And urs?"

". . . Lou. . ."

"Ok so we're here. U sure u can continue on ur own?"

"Yup plus u already did enough. I need to prepare for new school tomorrow anyway."

"Which school?"

"Ahhh "Arnold junior high"?"

"Wait-THAT'S MY SCHOOL!!!"

"Really!? Really...cool.."

"But why school on the ground?"

"Well tomorrow Starts that *swap up* day we have here. It's about sharks going to earthlings schools and earthlings go to our water school woth crystals."

"Which crystals?"

"Well when animals turn 11 years old each one gets a special crystal that has a power that gives us waterlings legs and you earthlings fins."

"Why didn't I get my own one then?"

"Well maybe it's just late nothing else... Any how I'll see u tomorrow then, bey..."

"BEY!!"-she said and Lou swam away. The next day Luci was really hyped for seeing Lou. They came to school all happy and were waiting for him. Lou soon came. Luci was really pleased to see him. The day went by and it was time for geography. A teacher of geography was a real bitch and didn't like anybody sept rich kids. She caught Lou and Luci talk. She started yelling at them and told how they need to tell their moms to come.

"But Ma'am I-"

"Don't u "Ma'Am bUt" ME!!! WHO GAVE U THE RIGHT TO TALK IN MY CLASS!!!

"But miss I-"

"U what!?"

"...I don't have a mother..." -said Lou quite sad.

"Oh...well then...Call ur father or whatever.."-she said and Lou got out of the class. Luci asked if she can use the bathroom cause of her period and the teach let her. When she got out she looked for Lou and heard someone in male bathroom.

It was Lou. He was crying cause of this shit. Luci entered

"Hey u good bro?"-he asked and hugged him

"Y-yes dw.."

"I am so srry for -"

"It's ok...not the first time won't be the last.."-he said on the edge of the tears.

Luci hugged him again and told him he can cry all he wants. The rst of the class they spent in the bathroom, crying amd comforting. For the next few months everything was amazing. Lou and Luci really became close. One night they decided to run from home and meet up. They did so, both escaped during the night and had an amazing time. But when they stopped at one lil shop the owner called the cops because of vagrancy.

"Shit! We gotta go!" -said Lucifer as they started running. They ran for a while and decided to stop at one lake.

"Wow...that was a close one... wasn't it?"

"Yeah..."

"Welp at least we escaped am I right?"

"Yeah..."-he said as they continued talking. They talked for a while when suddenly they saw some light. It was the car. It was near them so they both jumped into the water, before it was too late. Luckily, the car didn't get them. Lou looked out of the water.

"Is it safe?" -asked Luci swimming

"Yeah, I think it is"-he saud and they both got out of the water all wet.

"Are u cold?"-asked Lou Luci

"Nah broo I'm good :D And u?"

"I'm ok, as a shark u get used to it. But I know earthlings get cold when they are out of the water."

"Nah I'm good"-he saud as they both set down. They continued talking while drying. And out of nowhere... Lou took off his jacket and gave it to Luci. Lucifer blushed and their eyes went wAcKy.

"Ummmm u good?"-asked Lou suprised

"Yes, certainly. I do this when I'm happy."

Times passed and their friendship was growing and growing.

Hope u enjoyed!!! :D

[whoslaurapalmer]

you can do readmores on mobile???? since when??????? goddamn!!!!!!!!!!!

so my mom is like probably fine and honestly she's been doing really well since her surgery in September and healing up really nicely!!!!! and after the surgery she gets 3 more rounds of chemo and then she's on ⭐️maintenance⭐️ for 2 years which is Not Chemo so her hair grows back which I am, very much looking forward to. anyway she was supposed to have a treatment today (the first of the 3rd round) but they called yesterday and said "you know you don't have to come in tomorrow, right?" and we were like. what. why did no one tell us until now. so now she doesn't have her third round until January 12th which is also my brother's birthday and I don't know if she'll be home from the office in time without rushing around and she keeps saying that we can do my brothers birthday on the 13th and he won't mind but //i// mind!!!!!!!! I just. Love my birthday. And I think all birthdays should be special. And I want his to be special too 😟

so anyway my mom is as you might expect just from seeing my anxiety, also a very anxious person (where else would I get it from.) and she keeps a lot of tension in her stomach so being told she didn't have a treatment today ONLY YESTERDAY clearly threw her whole system off and today her stomach really hurt and it got to the point where she decided to go to the emergency room (which she never does so it was not a lightly made decision) and asked my aunt to drive her and i came too bc my mom wanted me to so that's where I've been all afternoon!!!!!! sitting in my aunts car in the parking lot of the hospital, alternately reading and crying!!!!!!!! and I mean she's probably fine!!!!!! there's no reason she wouldn't be!!!!!! it's probably just gas stuck somewhere, because she's been doing so well otherwise and her cancer numbers on her blood work are FIFTEEN!!!!!!!! IN THE NORMAL NORMAL RANGE FOR A HUMAN BEING!!!!!!!! THERE IS MOST LIKELY NOTHING TERRIBLY WRONG!!!!!!! SHE JUST HAS A LOT OF ANXIETY AND A SENSITIVE STOMACH!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT ELSE CAN I THINK!!!!!!!!!!!! but they have to do all the tests and stuff that people do at the emergency room including a CT scan and that takes, an age, and like, no I don't want to go home!! I don't mind sitting in the parking lot!!!!! I really dont!!!!!!! I am a seasoned waiting room player and that involves waiting in cars, too!!!!!! I brought Stuff!!!!!!! but I probably should bc it's not like I can DO anything sitting in the car and she's probably just worrying about me sitting out here (although it's a very mild 55 degrees today, quite frankly would've been a great day for a walk I tell you what.) and I probably should just let my aunt drive me home so I can, be home and eat dinner and let my aunt stay here bc who knows how long they will have to be here!! but I don't know if I want to!!!!!! BUT I MEAN IT'S NOT LIKE ANYTHING IS GONNA GO REALLY WRONG, RIGHT??????? ALSO I NEED A STUPID TISSUE AND I DONT KNOW WHY I DONT HAVE ANY IN THIS HONESTLY ENORMOUS PURSE SO I HAVE TO KEEP WIPING MY NOSE ON MY MASK WHICH AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE IS GROSS!!!! (I'm not WEARING it while ALONE in the car but I wore it while my aunt was driving and when she comes out to ask how I am.) I don't know. I don't know if I feel lonely sitting out here so much as just upset. It's not even 4:30 yet and the lights are coming on in the parking lot. and I didn't text my brother to tell him bc why worry him??? Someone should be having a decent fucking afternoon!!!!!!!!!

also --

every nurse that passes by my mom, apparently: oh! you're shaking, are you cold? can I get you a blanket?

my mom: NO

my aunt: she's not cold!! just anxious!!!!!!!

[aajjks]

💜😔

TPOL!JK

“i-i’m sure i’ll feel better by tomorrow. i’m probably just sick” you say while rubbing your temples but jungkook doesn’t buy it and books an appointment anyways. for the rest of the night jungkook handles everything. he takes care of jaemin and cooks you dinner while you lay in bed and watch movies.

by the next day, jungkook is up early getting jaemin ready for your doctor’s appointment as are you. you throw on a cute blue tracksuit with uggs boots while your hair is in a messy bun because you didn’t have the energy to do it. not to mention, it’s thinning out so you may have to cut it.

jungkook takes the keys to his mercedes and drops jaemin off at his mother’s before he’s headed to the hospital for your check up. you both arrive on time and the nurse does the usual: takes your blood pressure, weighs you at a low 90 Ibs, notes your height, and when she takes your temperature it’s sitting at 105*F.

“do you mind if we draw blood, ms. l/n?” she asks and you nod your head. while she gets the needles together, she informs you to tell her what’s been going on with your health while jungkook sits and watches the whole thing.

you aren’t a big fan of needles so jungkook helps distract you by telling you to look at him and not the needle which helps because the blood drawing is over quickly.

“i’m gonna run some tests and i’ll be back okay?” the nurse says and leaves the both of you alone. you’re obviously worried and so jungkook comes up to help you calm down. his fingers thread through yours as you lean your warm head against his. he’s telling you that everything will be okay but he really isn’t sure what’s going on with you.

you’ve lost a lot of weight, you’re losing hair, the headaches, and he’s noticed the strange red blotches on your face. he doesn’t want to think the worst but he’s beginning to think it might be…

*knock* *knock*

“hello, hello. you must be l/n y/n right?” says the doctor who goes to shake both yours and jungkook’s hand. “i’m dr. fields and i see you’ve lost a lot of weight, you’re experiencing a lot of headaches, and rashes right?”

“y-yeah. i don’t know what’s going on with me. it’s all happening out of nowhere”

“mhm. do you mind if i take a look inside your mouth?”

“no”

you open your mouth as the doctor puts his gloves and uses his light to look inside your mouth for any sores which you don’t have. he checks other parts of your body to look for any swelling, specifically your feet and arms.

“so what’s going in with me?” you ask.

“well, ms. l/n, you have lupus. it’s an autoimmune disease that makes your immune system damage organs and tissue throughout your body and according to your history, your mother—“

“yeah, my mother had lupus. but-but lupus isn’t hereditary…is it?”

“it’s a 5% chance that it could be but from running tests on your blood and the symptoms you’re experiencing, it is lupus. that’s why you’re losing so much weight because hair loss, rashes, headaches, sores in the mouth, and swollen joints are symptoms of lupus. you are experiencing a flare up so i’m going to prescribe you to medications that’ll help lessen those chances and help regulate your weight”

you have lupus. the same disease that your mother was battling for years and the reason why she couldn’t bare another child after you. her flare ups would get so bad that it was considered a risk if she desired to bare another baby and now you’re sure you won’t be able to bare a child for jungkook.

“ms. l/n?”

“h-huh? i-i’m sorry”

“it’s okay. i need you to walk with me so i can do a scan on your body to make sure your liver, kidneys, heart and any other organs are okay and aren’t being affected”

what a sad, sad day.

After you’re done with the scans, he’s obviously impatiently waiting for you to come back, and as soon as you do, Jungkook takes your hand, and you both accompany the doctor.

Of course, he notices that you’re really stressed and upset with the news and of course he’s also scared but he knows lupus is life-threatening in rare cases.. and if you take your medication, you’ll be fine.

So then you are both on your way home, Jungkook wants to lift up your mood because you’re obviously really somber and he cannot blame you, but he was really really scared about. What if it was something more dangerous what would he do then?

So he turns on the music, more so your favorite album, and of course, he starts to hum along with the song, because he knows how much you adore his voice, even though he thinks he’s a very bad singer [LIES] whilst stealing a few quick gazes at your face.

And he knows what he’s going to do.

“Princess.. come on talk to me.. the doctor assured me that you are going to be fine you just need to take your medication and take care of yourself- and I’ll do that for you. I’ll take care of you…. Just… yn don’t stress I know it’s really easy for me to say but I don’t wanna lose you.”

Of course, he’s really scared to lose you, he doesn’t know what he’ll do if that actually happens, but he knows that will be the day he dies as well.

The car comes to a halt because of the signal, he takes the opportunity to ask you about lunch. You haven’t eaten anything.

You have to eat.

“Babe… tell me what do you want to eat? Let’s have lunch together you have to eat, you know that.” Jungkook sighs, “I don’t know what to say that will ease your worries, but… no matter what I’m going to love you. I just want yoi to be here with me and I just wanna live my life with you- I wanna get old with you.. so please start taking care of yourself for me.” He whispers, softly,

He knows he has to be strong for you, so you don’t lose yourself, but it’s really hard for him when he looks at your face and he sees fear in your eyes.

“listen to me. Nothings going to happen to you. We’ll get through this together, honey you’re going to get so healthy and we are both going to live a long healthy life… together with our children, you’ll see.” He laughs,

He’s not really aware about lupus and what side effects it can have but he’s going to do his research tonight, but maybe there’s some thing that you know and he doesn’t.

“Princess.. we can always postpone the wedding until you get better. I don’t wanna put any stress on you.” as much as he excited about the wedding… your health comes first.

“Come yn.. please talk to me say something.”

You’re breaking him.

[annunnaki7]

ARE DISSABLED PEOPLE LAZY? COULD REALLY DO BETTER IF THEY TRIED HARDER? This is an example of an average bad week, like 6/10 bad on mental health and 5/10 on the physical level. Oh yea it gets so much worst! Read this and tell me how I could have improved.  

MAY 2023 

Sat 29.04.23 

-Asthma bad all night. I coughed myself awake so often I didn't get any deep sleep. 

-Fibromyalgia not happy about this, and is flaring up on its way to STOPPING FLARING up instead! 🤬 Joy! So now going to pee has extra general pain added to it. 

- Allergies & Sinus bad. My nose runs non stop. Used 1/2 roll of toilet paper blowing my nose just today. And no, I don't like waisting things. Throwing meds at it. 

-Managed to work with my carer, sorting paperwork. I can't help with much else anymore. I don't have the hand strength to cut a carrot. That's annoying as taking away from my autonomy. 

Sun 30.04.23

- Allergies & Sinus still bad with non stop daily headaches, with migraine sometimes.

-Fibromyralgia flare. Pain feels like I feel down badement cement stairs or  when I had major surgery on day 3 with 5 days hospital stay. I'm in too much pain to eat. Exhaustion worst than Covid & Pneumonia! 

-Asthma bad. I have to rest for 1 minute every 10-15 meters I walk. Going to the loo takes 5 breaks.

- Urinary incontinence dissability related not happy about so many breaks to get TO the loo. I need buy more trousers! (I used 3 in one day twice this week)

- I'm in so much exhaustion & pain I can't even face watching TV. Strong painkillers increased. I'm not happy. I was hoping to decrease them this week! 

Mon 01.05.23 

-Migraine. 

-Sinus inflamed for past 4 weeks. Related to but not only cause of migraine. I'm a migraine sufferer.

-Fibromyalgia medium flare. Hands hurt as well as eveywere else. A plate is heavy to lift. I can't stab potatoes to zap them in microwave by myself. 

-Hayfever slightly improving.

-If I didn't have a carer coming to help me with a wash, I don't know how I would cope.She helped more today. She's so nice. People don't appreciate them enough.

-Concerned how I'll make hospital appointment of Thursday. And got builders in tomorrow. 

Tuesday 02.05.23

-Migraine at night. 

-All body pain bad. Been worst before though. 

-Builders poped in to say they'll be back tomorrow. And no neither owner nor estate agents told them about all the work needing doing. 

- This is in fact my comparativly, the "best day" to date. I can't sit in a chair re pain. And I have a high pain threshold. Had major surgery and got up by myself the next day when everyone else did on the 3rd day with help. Nurses said it was shocking to see me trot - carefully -  about.

- Hospital appointment of tomorrow changed for latter on. It's not a vital one. 

-District Nurse popped in to assess if I need to worry re swealing in legs. I'll have to go to the specialist clinic after all. 

-Blood Pressure still high & Pulse going nuts. Say hi to all types of allergies as a possible cause! I take the strongest anti histamin, plus 6 over the counter allergy tablets daily. Yep, the specialist doctors advised that. It stop skin for literally falling off and other horror stories! 

Wed 03.05.23 

-Vomited blood all night (5hrs of hurling on off) from ulcer, blood clots included! Yuck! 3rd time in 1 month.

-Day Migraine following as haven't been able to drink much 

-Im past normal exhausted as part of Fibromyalgia. It feels like I did a 14hr shift and haven't slep the next 2 nights. (Yes, I've done that in the past. Joy of nursing & midwifery whilst having dissabilities)

- Spoke to GP, meds increased. I don't want another endoscopy. Don't see what else it will tell us. It's costly to the NHS, I'm going to be in so much pain for at least 2 weeks after due to dissability, not the test. Urinary incontinence will be a pain. I'm not even for resuscitation (DNR) anyways. 

-Not hungry. Disordered eating means it will kick in if I can't eat at all today. Gods even cake don't sound appealing!

- Builders back. Same thing, back tomorrow instead. But now they got the list of job. 

-District Nurse decided I need compression stockings! My severe eczema might not like the extra heat in summer! & Scratchy material.

-Migraine afternoon - nightime.

-Did eat eventually. Yea me! 

Thursday 04.05.23

-Food helped with migraine & dissorted eating. 

- Pain and extreme exhaustion same. I can't hold a plate of food.

- Severe anxiety started in afternoon after flat owner demanding I get the garden clean that night. Message was passed to me by builder at around 4.40pm. to be done by tomorrow morning. Oh yea, I'm dissabled with poor balance, walks some 15-20 meter with 2 stick, uses wheelchair otherwise. And it would get dark even if I miraculously find someone for, ... work that's not urgent! And oh yes, there's no place to eat at the kitchen table due to building work. Like that's not a priority after builders leave rather than garden. Also. Thunder and rain so bad, I though thunder had struck nearby. 

-Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) few times last night (originates from past child abuse) but attacks due to the way the flat owner and estates agent treats me.

Friday 05.05.23

-Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) exacerbated since around 2am started with the stress.

- Headaches back

- Severe anxiety rising progressively

- C-PTSD flash back early morning. Good thing I know how to manage it.

- I ate with carer, yea! Well she made me eat. 

Saturday 06.05.23

-Anxiety still high

-C-PTSD same high during day, not typical of abuse. Definitely flat owner & Estates Agent related.

Sunday 07.05.23

- Actively managing the mental health side of things. 

- Bad Heaches day time 

- Friend brought me yummy KFC. Could only eat a tiny bit. Oh great, that's Dissordered Eating not happy with all the stress!

- Migrainy headach lasted 2-3 hrs. Resolved with management.

-Asthma attack in evening for over 2hrs. Was so rough couldn't do lung capacity measurement until finally calmed down. 

- I won't be able to finish my KFC now. I'm pissed off. I'm so tired of juggling several deseases. It wouldn't be so bad of people acted like human being. 

So. Do you still think I'm leisurely lying around having a relaxing time as a dissabled person?

Did you realise that it takes managing one thing after another everyday? 

So everyone can do better of they "really wanted"? I really wanted to not loose my mortgage and dog. It's my dog I missed the most, not even one of my things. From a Midwife I became homeless. From working 16hrs or work followed by Union Rep work (IE talking to staff, not official meetings before you quote the law) I'm now not able to eat independently at times, or wash alone now. I'm still acting?  Have a good, lazy life? You want to swap? 

[scarletshnoz]

Sally XL (2/5)

Sally posed around in the mirror, frowning and cringing all the while.

'I look like I've put on ten pounds! I've never had bloating this bad… Though I guess I've never really gotten it from eating… Sonic was right though, that salad wasn't even that big…

She scratched her head through her amber locks.

...maybe I'm allergic to something they put in it?'

The princess wandered back onto her couch, noting the alien feeling of the softness covering her butt squashing up against the cushion and flattening. She debated going to see Dr. Quack for some allergy tests as she'd realized she'd actually never had that done before. In her teenage years she'd obviously had neither the time nor resources when fighting to save Mobius from the original Ivo and when having limited rations to survive on allergens weren’t really something that crossed her mind… not that the veggies they had to farm would have been anyway. Though, she didn't feel anything other than puffy. No sore throat, eyes, migraine, lightheadedness … still though, if there was some oil or sauce or pesticide out there that would make her inflate this much whenever she accidentally ate it then maybe she'd best know to avoid it. She would swing by the Tommy Turtle memorial hospital, but… not until tomorrow. She'd rather not leave the castle or even her room until this went back down. The only times Sally ever covered up were when a mission meant she’d need protection from the elements or for special occasions where a dress was expected, she knew she didn’t have any casual baggy clothing that could conceal this.

She stayed seated on her sofa, unsure of what to do with the rest of her evening. She did notice she was hungry, which made sense she supposed… it may have been due to a sudden drop in her blood sugar but it was most likely that it was just because Sally usually ate dinner around this time. She realized deep down that she was overreacting but she didn't want anyone to see her like this. While she knew dinners with the rest of her family were soon going to become a special event again as she had returned to active duty she didn't want to take the chance of any of them noticing and commenting. She decided she would order delivery from somewhere, though most places that did delivery didn't have the healthiest selections and apparently even the healthiest now risked upsetting her stomach to the point where the bloating looked like she had doubled her body fat percentage.

'I'm pretty sure it's an allergy thing, but if not I'm going to have to start asking Sonic if I can pick the restaurants more often.’

If not for some sort of food intolerance this bloating must somehow be the lone work of the overabundance of balsamic in her meal this afternoon, she had already noted that the lack of restraint with portions spread even into the salad.

‘After his guilt tripping today I’m sure that’ll be a fun conversation…’

Sally rolled her eyes as she thought.

It seems even the healthiest options in New Mobotropolis’s back water establishments were still somewhat rigged. Speaking of… she felt quite greasy, uncomfortably so.

'I'll take a quick bath before the food gets here.'

She planned, she would just be ordering another salad and she had grown very familiar and attached to the options at Uncle Chuck's at this point.

She called in.

"Uncle Chuck's, what can we get you?"

The robotic voice of Sonic's father Jules rang through Sally's pointed ear.

"Hey Jules! Just a large caesar salad please, to the castle obviously. "

"Sally? It's delivery? You know you can always stop by."

The robian offered warmly.

"Oh, um sorry. Think I'm spending the night in..."

She answered awkwardly, realizing she probably should have come up with an actual excuse to avoid looking rude to her boyfriend's father and family friend.

"Alright hon, well we won't have any trouble finding the address."

"Well I should hope not."

The chipmunk bantered back.

Sally took a quick glance down at herself, fixating on how her boobs were now peeking out farther than the distance where her chin was resting as her neck bent downward. Her breasts ends were nearly where her nose was now on the x axis.

‘Maybe I’m actually eating too many greens…’

She begrudgingly pondered to herself before realizing Mr.Hedgehog would be hanging up now and quickly blurting out-

“Sorry, actually could I get a tuna salad instead?”

She said far more awkwardly than she intended.

“Oh, sure hon. Expect it in fifteen, take care dear."”

Jules said, knowing her well enough to know the crack in her voice was a little unusual but thought nothing of it. He hung up.

About ten minutes later Jules approached the table seating his wife and son. After the near apocalypse of the metal virus and with another commercial-like few months without a looming threat his father had noticed Sonic spending a lot more time with the family. He would savour it, knowing said months were probably nearing their end.

"A large tuna salad for a…

He jokingly pretended to squint his artificial eyes at the order.

...Sally Acorn, figured you'd want to be a delivery boy again for this one."

Sonic smiled.

"Meh, I guess I could for old times sake. I'm surprised she didn't do take-out though."

"I told her we'd be happy to see her."

Jules cleared himself.

"She must be busy with royal affairs, so I should be back pretty quick."

He looked to his mother, whom he had just been in the middle of a conversation with. Before grabbing the paper bag containing the salad and speeding off out the door.

With his super speed Sonic ran straight up the castle walls and vaulted over the rail of the princess’s balcony.

He knocked on the glass doors with a smile.

Sally stepped out of the bathroom with a towel around her brick red hair. Her eyes widened at the sight of Sonic eagerly waiting for her to open the door as he often did.

‘Of course.’

She moaned

‘Why did I have to order from chucks?’

The princess mentally smacked herself.

“Long time no see princess”

The blue one greeted as she opened the door.

“Since when are you doing deliveries again?”

She asked, frowning.

“I’m not, just happened to be at unc’s when you ordered. Why, not happy to see me?”

He joked.

Sally struggled to find an excuse that Sonic wouldn’t immediately realize was a lie. The fact that she had just clearly gotten out of the bath meant she couldn’t pretend she was up to something urgent.

"I'm uh… actually not feeling well now."

She answered, figuring the classic would serve her best. She tried to rush him back out onto the balcony before they broke eye contact. Obviously out of everyone Sonic would be the first to notice any changes in her body, she needed him out asap.

"And I didn't want to get anybody sick, including you… so 'git!"

She took the bag and began pushing Sonic back out onto the balcony. Only for her to almost fall forward as he whipped around behind her in the blink of an eye.

"Aw don't sweat it Sal, it's kinda my job to be here for you."

He waved, guiding her by her shoulders back onto her sofa.

She groaned, there was nothing she could do now. Sonic was as stubborn as she was and the more she insisted he leave the more suspicious she'd look.

She sat her large salad bowl on her lap, hoping that would be enough cover her puffiness. Apparently the warm water had done nothing to soothe the bloating, she still felt her thin new airbags need to deflate on impact of the cushion.

Sonic took her feet in his hands, rubbing them thoroughly. Sally cringed as he advanced to her calves, worried he'd notice the extra softness.

"Anything else I can get you Sal? Ginger soda or something'?"

"Just some warm water."

She answered with a faint smile. Despite their bickering he was a great boyfriend when he wasn’t actively trying to annoy her, which made her feel guilty to lie to him… even over something so trivial.

Within a millisecond he was back with the mug and a tv tray.

"Do the folks know you're sick?"

He asked before rubbing her shoulders.

"No, whenever I'm sick daddy acts like I have something terminal. I don't need to waste Dr.Quacks time when I know it's just a cold or a flu."

She explained, pulling from truth to aid her lie. Sally's face then contorted into a crooked smile as she let out a satisfied sigh, Sonic’s massage had reached her scalp and temples while she enjoyed her salad. She was royalty, she could have people pamper her like this any time but she would feel bad abusing her status like that. If it was just Sonic however she didn't feel so bad…

'I should pretend to be sick more often.'

She thought to herself, the temporary guilt of her lie had faded when Sonic got a knot out of her back.

Sonic had brought a puke bucket and some acetaminophen over to Sally (although she said she had already taken some), before seating himself next to her as they briefly watched some cheesy romcom.

Sally had finished her dinner and he'd soon be offering to throw the garbage out for her, she devised a way to get Sonic to leave without having to remove the large paper bowl from her lap. She immediately pretended to doze off like she'd had hours ago, letting her head slump to her shoulder.

Sonic looked at the 'slumbering' princess. Something hadn't seemed right since he'd arrived, Sally was acting funny.

Regardless he still had an obligation to be a good partner. He took the garbage from out of her lap, to which Sally cursed under her breath. He went to pick her up but paused for a moment, something seemed a little different about Sally… her body? Yeah, her body seemed different somehow. Sonic’s brain was already running through the possibilities to explain the weird differences in Sally’s behaviour, if this was an imposter then that would explain the indiscernible difference in her body type. Sonic squinted to Sally’s discomfort, then he realized. The princess’ near anorexic build had filed out a little bit, less boney and softer around the edges.

‘Bloating maybe? Nah, it’s not the end of the month yet...’

Sonic found it hard to believe that Sally of all people could’ve put on a few.

But as he reached for her he confirmed that she was softer to the touch. He lifted her into his arms and noted she was the littlest bit heavier.

'Must've been why she didn't want me seeing her.'

He rolled his eyes, having thought something was actually wrong. Her putting on a few was karmic as far as he was concerned. Apparently she had struggled to notice it as well, otherwise their lunch date would have been in jeopardy earlier today.

Sonic chuckled, maybe she did already know then…

‘Maybe she was projecting.”

The hedgehog sniggered.

It would make sense given she had spent the past few months with little exercise in recovery.

Sally continued cursing internally as Sonic brought her to her bed, laying her down and planting a kiss on her cheek. He paused for a moment, Sally didn’t quite have her usual flowery scent. Definitely still smelled nice though… kind of like… chili???

‘No way.’

He thought to himself. An intense hunger pain interrupted his confusion. His stomach had not calmed down over the evening, despite the fact that he ran back to his family's restaurant to pick himself up some chilidogs and let his mother know that he would be taking care of Sally the rest of the evening. It still felt as though he’d eaten next to nothing today. Sonic did notice the taste of tuna was stronger in his mouth than it ought to have been from just the single bite his girlfriend let him have. He looked to the ring, still planted on Sally’s petite (by mobian standards) finger. He then looked to his own. He developed a theory, it was kind of ridiculous but Sonic had encountered stranger things of a similar nature. He took off back to his house. Currently unoccupied, he could pull a bunch of the Hedgehog’s snack foods from their cupboard without further questions from his parents. He rushed back up through the balcony doors, with almost more junk food than he could carry. Sonic knew the proposition would sound ridiculous and he would likely end up hurting Sally’s feelings by pointing out her slight gain if he were wrong (which would not quite be funny enough to die over). Though, on second thought… No, he would still have to test this without her permission.

Luckily for him whilst pretending to sleep Sally had actually slipped off for real in her continued lethargy.

Sonic took out a package of chocolate chip cookies and scarfed the thirty-plus sugary treats down, he noted that the emptiness of his stomach still felt not even the slightest bit better. There seemed to be no effect on the princess so he continued his little experiment. Sonic opened a container of leftover pizza he'd had in the fridge and plowed through the five slices. Sonic continued through more of the foods he had happened to have quick access to. After gobbling down a couple hot pockets and a few slices of cheesecake Sally’s middle seemed to be jutting out more than it had when he'd first laid her down. He pressed his hand against his resting girlfriend's tummy. His hand sunk only the slighted bit before pressing against a buoyant, stuffed stomach. Sonic's eyes were now glued to the princess's middle. Further inspecting he quickly wolfed down more of his pile, with each pretzel, sponge cake and chip bag he watched in amazement as her stomach would suddenly press outward more and more. It continued reaching out farther and farther from her pelvis. Sonic stopped, satisfied and astonished. He had definitely packed her more than he needed to but he had to make sure he wasn't just imagining things. Sally's tummy looked like someone had inflated it with a pump. Sonic took his own ring off and looked at what remained of his mountains of snacks. He quickly shovelled them down his throat and by the time he was through it all it had felt like he'd actually eaten something.

"Oooho, finallyyyy."

He moaned in relief. It hadn't been his usual portion size but it felt good to have something in his stomach, that plus the tuna salad Sally had apparently eaten for him was at least enough to quell the aching.

"So the rings swap our stomachs."

Sonic pondered in a whisper.

'And apparently our metabolisms too. If Sally could take in all the food I ate today and still be hungry enough for dinner she must've digested it as fast as I would’ve, which explains where the extra padding came from.'

The hedgehog deduced.

'I could probably burn all that off for her and I wouldn't have to feel bad about feeding her junk food, a straight twenty minutes of just running past the sound barrier would be more than overkill.-

-but…”

He grinned mischievously.

“If it can be fixed so easily, might as well have some fun with it first.'

He loomed over the slumbering chipmunk in the moonlight, placing his hand on her belly. It felt like an overinflated basketball.

“Let's see how quick she is to laugh when it's her with the 'potbelly'.”

He snickered, putting his ring back on so Sally's body would take the calories more efficiently. He noticed her brows were cringed as she slept, she was likely uncomfortable with her stomach so tight. He grazed his hand smoothly across her underbelly, caressing it to relieve some of the pressure. He had to rub gently so as to not wake her, but after a solid minute he noticed she was sleeping more peacefully.

Adorable little hiccups began escaping her, Sonic smiled warmly down at her before closing the balcony doors behind him. He would be making sure to have a late night snack tonight.

___

Sunlight peeked through the princess' thin blinds and rested on her beautiful face. She slowly came to, tossing her forearm over her face to give her eyes some shade. When she became conscious enough she flopped her arm back onto the mattress, revealing her annoyed expression. She couldn't believe she had accidentally fallen asleep twice, she had practically lost half her day yesterday. The only solace was that hopefully her bloating had gone down. She sat herself up but was immediately stopped by a strange discomfort in her middle.

Her heart sank and her eyes widened as she looked down, her stomach was scrunching. One hand slapped over her mouth as she gasped, the other poking her new slight underbelly, it bulged out with fat compressed from the folding of her abdomen. With the way it curved back down into her abdominal wall just above her crotch it wouldn't be unfair to say it looked like the beginnings of a roll. She began tracing fingers through this surreal new shallow fold… it looked like a crack in her middle. Evidently this new discomfort was the sensation of her body rubbing against itself. Springing upright evenly redistributed this alien fat through her center, killing the fold… yet it came right back each time she manically hunched back over.

She leaped out of her bed and sprinted to her bathroom mirror, confirming her fears. Yesterday's bloating looked as though it had doubled. Well, it was obvious now that it wasn't bloating…

"I'm getting fatter."

She said faintly in disbelief, leaning over the sink as her big blue eyes stared into her reflection.

Her stomach now had a slight outward arc and sucking in only gave more prominence to that little underbelly. It required more effort for her fingertips to reach the stiffness of a rib, any sense of muscle definition had been lost completely as her thighs and upper arms were now noticeably swollen. Her collarbones were still visible between her broadened shoulders but just barely and only closest to where they met. Her upper arms looked thicker as well with a layer of creamy 'unsculpted muscle' covering her triceps. The itchy panic-inducing feeling of folding plagued her sides as she bent from left to right as her now pronounced love handles squished up against the puffiness arcing over her rib/sternum line and the bottoms of her armpits. Her almost nonexistent chest had blown up like water balloons, going up a cup size at the very least. Each breast had expanded into teardrop-esque shapes. She could even feel the tip of her tail poking out atop a higher spot on her back than usual, she swiveled around to confirm her inflated butt cheeks had sent it upward to a different angle. The inward dent of her glutes had been filled in and forgotten as well, the result of countless workouts gone just like that. She didn't seem to be overweight, however she was now at the high edge of the average weight range… a day ago she was dangerously close to underweight. In silence… Unable to process what had happened to her she hopped her now athletically thick body slightly in the air, with less jiggling than she would've expected aside from her bust. The cellulite clung as densely as it could to the muscle it now surrounded, she at least wasn't flabby. She looked and felt like a girl who had the respectable workout regime that she did, if just kept eating one too many cupcakes. That realization had understandably done little to calm the poor girl down; however. She needed a scale. Hunched over she began ravaging through the drawers of her bathroom, cringing at both the continuous scrunching of her stomach and how far she could feel her derriere sticking out behind her. Every towel, razor and shampoo bottle had been knocked over before she focused back in and smacked herself harder than she'd intended. The scale was behind the toilet.

She stepped on it, dreading the result. The digital numbers read.

'141 mlb'

Twenty seven pounds. Twenty seven mobian pounds higher than what she weighed last time she had checked.. and presumably what she had weighed less than twenty four hours ago. It was obvious what was causing this, it was the only possible explanation. She chastised herself for chalking it up to mere bloating before.

Sally gripped the ring on her right pinky with her left hand, expecting it to slide off seamlessly. Instead it instantly snagged against the flesh on her finger above.

"You've got to be kidding me…"

She huffed under her breath, apparently even her fingers were thicker now than when they were when she had first dawned this stupid golden band.

She yanked as hard as she could, ignoring the pain but the ring only dug more and more into the meat on her finger. If she pulled any more she'd suffer a dislocation or even fillet her poor digit.

She realized she needed to either call for help or leave her living quarters looking like this to search for some lubricant and pliers herself.

She immediately began debating between reaching Bunnie or Nicole. Then she realized-

"Sonic!"

He was wearing the same ring, she chastised herself for not immediately worrying for his well being. He could be suffering the same effect, his 'fast metabolism' would likely not protect him from apparently magic carbs. She had to get a hold of him first, this was her fault after all.

_______

Sonic laid back against his bed, relaxed and reading a comic book.

His ear perked at the sound of his communicator beeping.

*Bpp bpp bpp!*

He took a wild guess who was calling and why.

"Sonic, the rings!"

Sally's panicked voice shouted.

"What about 'em?"

He feigned ignorance, his voice sounded completely innocent.

"I-I… what do you mean what about them!?"

The princess sounded completely baffled.

"Take yours off, come over."

She ordered, he noticed her voice was shaky.

"On my way."

He responded.

Within a minute Sonic paced through the already open doors of her balcony.

"Sal?"

He asked, peeking in, ready to take a look at his own handiwork. Sally was leaning against the back of her couch frowning.

She gestured to herself as if to say 'well..?'

She didn't want Sonic to see her like this, but with the chance that he too may have been affected she had to bare it. False alarm though, he seemed the exact same.

Sally however looked, if Sonic had to describe it: broader.

"Huh."

"Yeah, huh!"

The princess panicked. She winced as Sonic poked her middle.

"I thought the same thing was happening to you!"

The princess threw her arms out.

"Huh? Oh nah, I already figured these out."

He held his ring out in the palm of his hand.

"Come again?"

Sally cocked an eyebrow, why was he being so nonchalant?

"Yeah it's weird, when we're both wearing them it's like we switch guts. If I eat something it ends up in your stomach and you digest it quick, like if you had my stomach. I was starving yesterday and I couldn't figure out why."

He chuckled.

'Well, at least that means I won't be getting any bigger…'

She thought.

...She thought.

She had hoped merely taking the ring off would reverse her gain but that seemed pretty unlikely now.

"Okay. So you just have to put the ring back on and not eat anything for a couple days, with your metabolism this should melt off me."

She planned, calming down somewhat as she rubbed her temples.

"Oh, yeah! I was just going to run around a bunch and see if that worked."

"We can try that too!"

She smiled awkwardly.

Sonic’s already unusually coy expression deeppend. He leaned in to Sally's surprise, his nose touching hers. He smiled.

"On one condition."

"What!?"

She was taken back by that.

"We have a proper date at Uncle Chuck's. No healthy options, you're going to actually try the juicy stuff. The stuff people actually come for."

He said as authoritatively as he was physically capable of.

Sally's brows were pressed against each other and her mouth was agape.

"You're gonna finally experience the fun of pigging out a little, no reason not to now. Calories aren't a sweat anymore if we can just put these on and I can take them off for you."

He crossed his arms, still grinning.

"Are you serious!?"

She asked at a rather high volume, partially due to laughter… partially due to legitimate rage.

"Well if not, I could just keep my ring on twenty four seven. I'm guessing you can't get yours off or you'd've done it already…

He pointed to her thickened digit.

...so maybe you could see what it's like to really be chunky since you thought it was hi-larious with me."

He crossed his arms in victory.

Sally couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Sonic, you literally can't get away with this. Do you really want to have to explain to our families and our friends what you're doing? They're already going to notice, look at me!"

Sonic's smile deepened, making Sally even more uncomfortable. It was clear to the princess that he knew something she didn't.

"Hey. You, me and a large basket full of chilidogs… that's all it'll take to stop this."

He declared smugly before flipping off the balcony.

Sally ran to the guard rail.

"I'll dump you!"

Sonic merely laughed as he took off below.

Sally frowned, he'd called her bluff. Fine, two could play it that way.

She tossed on her sky blue boots and vest, both were squeezing her now. Her top was cutting off circulation from her armpits to her triceps as the jacket's arm holes were shaped to suit a thin woman. Sally’s boots had one problem spot as well, the band squeezed the upper calves and the bottom of her thighs… no discomfort anywhere else yet. Wanting as few people as she knew to see her, Sally took the same path to ground level as Sonic did. She jumped off the balcony and did a parkour roll as she landed on the cobblestone trails of New Mobotropolis. She noted the minor discomfort she would usually feel in her back and shoulder when landing from such a height had disappeared thanks to the extra cushion, though she had plummeted a little harder than she was accustomed to with the extra weight. Her knees had taken a bit of strain from the start of her landing, it was a further reminder that if Sonic wasn't just pulling her leg such feats would soon become impossible to her. The princess' eyes darted about as she power walked through the crisp morning air. She kept tugging her vest forward in the hopes of covering herself a little, though there was more of her to cover now and the piece was revealing to begin with. She found herself surprised at the lack of reactions from the citizens she passed. She was expecting some pointing and whispering amongst onlookers or at worst pictures being taken but she saw nothing of the sort.

'Maybe it isn't as noticeable as I thought.'

She hoped, continuing her quick strut.

Luckily she didn't bump into anyone she knew on her way down to the Hedgehog's house.

She knocked on the door and was met by Bernadette.

"Morning princess! What's up?"

She smiled, friendly as ever.

"Oh, just wanted to talk to you and Sonic about something."

She smirked.

She further opened the door, welcoming her inside.

"Maurice! I think you're in trouble!"

Bernadette called, her smile having deepened.

"Doubt it!"

He responded, stepping out of his room looking even more cocky than usual.

"No, you are."

Sally threatened with her arms crossed.

"What did he do?"

Bernie asked, her tone belied a healthy mixture of amusement and annoyance.

What else was she to feel watching her son and his long time girlfriend squabble in their twenties the exact same way they had when they were five. You'd think after all the trauma they'd suffered together over the years they'd be more understanding with one another, more mature. Nope.

"Notice anything different about me?"

The princess gestured to herself.

Bernie just stared at her with a blank expression.

"It's okay, you're not going to hurt my feelings."

She assured, but still Bernadette said nothing.

"...You're going to have to help me here honey."

The elder hedgehog frowned.

Sally laughed awkwardly again.

"No really, it's fine!"

The chipmunk reassured, tossing her hands up.

Bernadette merely shrugged.

'Is it seriously not that noticeable!?'

Sally had to ask herself. She was flabbergasted.

'It's almost thirty pounds!'

She continued internally.

"He was already asking me if you looked funny in his pictures of you, but I have no idea what you two are seeing."

She admitted. Sally: now pretty confused herself, swiveled her head back to Sonic.

"Well Sal… want to explain it to her?"

Sally huffed. If her growth somehow wasn't noticeable to anyone else then she would simply have to wait until it became… more noticeable.

"Or do you agree to my terms?"

He pressed coyly.

Bernie stood up wandering off to the living room.

"Alright I'm tapping out, you two are beyond me. Maurice, whatever you're doing stop it."

"Wanna try someone else?"

He leaned against the wall in a b-boy pose, clearly happy with himself.

"Bunnie will notice."

Sally threatened.

"Bunnie would think it's as funny as I do."

She folded, that was probably true.

"Fine Sonic, keep it going! Make it bad enough so that she'll notice."

Sally pointed to the rug room.

Sonic placed his head in his hand.

"This isn't the stalemate you think it is."

He cooed ominously.

"So, unc's at six?"

He offered.

"Ugh!"

Sally turned out the door.

"Taking that as a no!"

He called down the road.

___

Sally had arrived back in her room, she'd been lucky enough that only some guards had seen her. Not her parents, not her brother. She sat back on her couch pouting, further annoyed by the reappearance of the scrunching sensation. Days like today when her schedule wasn't booked up and there was no disaster to attend to were usually made busy through exercising and training.

"I guess there's no point in doing it now."

She realized as she growled.

She watched TV simply waiting to feel herself get fatter so she could go show everyone to tell on Sonic. While she knew Bunnie and Amy would be no help Antoine, Tails and Rotor would come to her aid since Sonic’s folks would be spending the rest of their day at the restaurant. She didn’t want to stroll into a densely crowded space looking like a whale. However, the mere folding of her middle and molding of her rear was doing nothing but making the squirming and sighing princess restless. The feeling of butterflies wouldn't go away, how could they with her impending doom? Maybe she didn't have to wait, maybe she didn't have to give Sonic the privilege of seeing her with a full spare tire. She knew other speedsters and other mobians with abilities that could possibly reverse Sally's expansion if given the ring. Maybe if she could get Sonic's ring out of his hands she could fix this without his blessing.

Sally quickly tossed a blanket over herself before calling-

"Nicole!"

Suddenly a green frame appeared before the princess and a dark brown lynx girl materialized onto it.

"Mhm?"

She smiled.

"I need you to do me a favor, can you keep an eye on Sonic?"

Nicole looked concerned.

"Oh, is something wrong?"

"He's just messing with me, he has a little ring that he knows I need. If he leaves it vulnerable let me know."

"Oookay?"

She cocked an eyebrow but she was smiling again.

"Don't ask."

Sally frowned, knowing Nicole was going to want more context.

"Okay."

Nicole didn’t press, she simply gave a thumbs up before dispersing into green pixels. Her consciousness returned to monitoring the kingdom.

Sally sighed as she tossed the blanket off, if she were to go with her plan B where she didn't have to humiliate herself to get Sonic yelled at then she was going to need to go back out at some point to take it from him. The longer this went on the more likely she was to be seen, and she still had to worry about getting bigger.

Sally browsed her wardrobe, frowning as it was only now she wished she covered up more frequently. If Bernadette genuinely hadn't noticed her new softness while it was all out there then maybe she could effectively hide it from everyone with the right clothing.

Unfortunately nearly her entire selection was comprised of similar blue vests and combat boots, aside from pajamas and nice 'princesses-y' dresses for special occasions. It was also now that she wished she had been more fashionable in general, more patterned or stylish clothes could help distract from this excess weight yet all she had was plain and practical. She didn't need to hide her body when she was hot and her natural beauty meant no fancy accessories were required to add to it. Her dark red locks, sad blue eyes and most importantly her toned body compensated for her complete lack of fashion sense.

'Ugh.'

She held her head, she needed to calm down a little. She was acting as if she would never be her old size again when in the worst case scenario, Sonic would just thin her back down whenever he stopped getting amusement out of this… which would be after maybe a few weeks...

Sally shut her dresser doors with a huff. Any of those clothes were going to be a little snug on her as she was already, and she was likely going to graduate from a medium to a large within the afternoon anyway if her other half had anything to say about it. Sally couldn’t feel it but she was sure hundreds of calories were already being pumped into her as she sat about here, being converted to fat at super speed.

The princess laid out her yoga mat, she could at least maintain her flexibility without having to worry about her boyfriend undoing her hard work.

She descended into splits, exhaling as she tried to relax a little.

"Sally-girl!"

A raspy, high-pitched southern accent called to her from behind her bedroom door. Sally's calm was instantly destroyed, she didn't want anymore people seeing her like this than was necessary and Bunnie was most likely to pick up on her expansion after Sonic. Instantly, before Sally could make it to her blanket a blonde rabbit simply strolled in towing some chicken noodle soup.

"Hi… Bunnie."

The princess greeted her best friend in an uncharacteristically awkward tone of voice.

"Hey hon, Sonic told me you were sick. Figured I could whip you up some broth."

'Of course he did…'

She muttered under her breath.

"Oh, you didn't have to Bun."

She smiled, taking the bowl and holding it up to her midriff.

"Yeah.. but 'ah never get to cook anything fer you, also 'ah just wanted to see how you were. You doin' yoga?"

She asked, slightly confused.

"Oh yeah, thought maybe it'd help me feel better. Didn't work."

Sally responded, reaching for the blanket on the sofa. Bunnie cocked an eyebrow at the strange uncertainty in Sally's answer. She knew her best friend and very rarely if ever did she come off as anything but confident, it was especially odd given that it was such a simple question.

Bunnie frowned.

"Sally-girl... yer not really sick, are you?"

"I-

Sally cut herself off, realizing how foolish it would be to try to continue to lie.

no…"

Maybe she would be going with plan A after all... Sally sat the soup down, revealing more of her middle.

"Obviously you can tell right?"

Sally waved hands to herself.

"Uhm…

The southern belle wiggled her index finger in front of her mouth.

Sally's mouth dropped and her eyes widened, Bunnie seriously looked confused.

"Bunnie!?"

Sally cried, completely offended.

"Wut!?"

The rabbit shouted defensively and in utter confusion. She put her hand to her head.

"Did you guys just always think I was fat!?"

Sally threw her hands out.

Bunnie paused, looking Sally over and trying to think of what exactly she was supposed to say.

"Sally girl, you know 'ah would be the first to tell you if you were putting on a few. But you look the exact same t'uh me."

Bunnie mustered as sincere a look as she could as she placed a hand on the chipmunks shoulder. Sally squinted, then her eyes widened again.

"Bunnie, you're actually serious aren't you?"

"Sheesh hon, what'd you go up by? Two pounds?"

Bunnie joked.

"I think you need your eyes checked. "

Sally responded bitterly.

"Well erm, Sally… maybe it's that yer just now noticing but you've always been a little bit broader than Amy and 'ah."

"What!? No I wasn't!? I was the skinniest!"

She yelled in utter shock at what was coming out of her best friend's mouth.

"Sal…"

Mrs.D'coolette merely smirked.

"You're helping Sonic aren't you?"

Sally accused as she leant in.

"I promise I'll eat your soup if you stop playing along."

Sally's voice sounded almost unhinged, Bunnie had seemed genuine but there was no possible explanation she of all people could have believed what she was saying.

Bunnie threw her hands up defensively.

"Sally-girl... yer freaking me out now."

"I was the maid of honour at your wedding! You know my dress size!"

"Yeah, you're a ten?"

Bunnie answered, now concerned for Sally’s mental health.

"I'm a two! I-

Sally was about to shout, insulted again before she paused… her expression went blank.

"Wait… Nicole!"

The holo-Lynx reappeared.

"Aren't I supposed to be spying on Sonic?"

Nicole chuckled (unlike Knuckles).

"What are y'all spying on sugah-hog for!?"

Bunnie asked.

"What was my weight the last time I had you run diagnostics on me?"

Sally questioned, completely ignoring Bunnie's own confusion for the moment.

“...”

"One hundred forty five pounds."

She replied nonchalantly.

"I'm gonna kill him."

Sally rubbed her temples.

[dwarfysays]

September 17, 2024, Tuesday 1PM Journal

My dad got admitted into the hospital yesterday with pneumonia. Sister brought him in in the early morning hour for weakness, difficulty breathing and spitting up blood.

He went from the ED to the ICU.

Today, he’d been downgraded and moved out of the ICU.

Sister had been with him since she brought him in. Another sister was to take over today around lunch. But she had to go back home upon learning that her mom in law tested positive for COVID. So my brother takes that time slot. Then a niece takes over around 4.

I’m to takeover watching him in the hospital this evening until tomorrow afternoon.

Hopefully, they will release my dad before the weekend.

It’s disconcerting that somebody in the family has to stay with my dad during his hospital stay. Honestly, I don’t see the need. He has better supervision in the hospital than at home. Or at least I believe he does. But anyway, I will stay with him.

One thing I can’t stand is we the offspring are taking care of Dad. When I was growing up, he hardly had any role at raising us. He was in the Navy, so he would be gone on deployment for months at a time. I get it. But when at home, he just jumps in his car and run away whenever things got difficult.

Parenting is something that we learn from examples set by family. Makes me think. Both parents grew up in large families. Did they not observe any good parenting???

Anyways, I need to keep my gripes to myself and I need to bare in mind that my kids are watching what I do and what my attitude is.

I need to note that whenever my mom got sick and needed assistance my dad did NOT want to do anything for her!!!!!

But then, he got diagnose with prostrate cancer. She took the reigns on his care. Managed his diet, meds and appointments. He would NOT have done any of that for her.

Then Mom got the stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis! Not even a smoker, but guess who was. Sister stepped in on both their care. 17 months later my mom passes and Dad soldiers on.

Dad did not like going to her grave at the veterans cemetery. There is a vacant plot beside hers waiting for him. Just like my mom, he has not come to accept death. I mean that’s a tough one. I wonder if he would rather take a sedative. It’s to terrifying to die the way my mom did - completely conscious.

My boss told me he wants to be very high when he dies. That’s the best way to go other than being completely unconscious or taken suddenly.

I can’t help thinking Dad’s time may be near.

The impending end is terrifying. I get it.

I’d take a big bolus of mushrooms if I could when taking my last breath. I don’t want to know I’m dying. Knock me out. Get me hella high.

For now I live

For now my dad lives.

For now we do everything to keep him alive.

[alexcalder]

—whilst the bedroom door remained shut, allowing the medical professionals to have a look at her in private, as well as ask her whatever questions they needed to, Alexander simply waited. while Liz answered her questions, Dr.Lyons informed her that she would put her on some IV fluids, both for the dehydration and lack of nutrients for a prolonged time —which she thought might be the partial cause of her migraines and fever. a frown had appeared on her face at the mention of having some head trauma on two separate occasions. ‘I’ll take a look at it,’ she nodded when she mentioned Alex, smiled and then gave her a sympathetic look when she asked about seeing her babies. ‘I am afraid I cannot answer that right now,’ the doctor responded softly, shaking her head a little. ‘blood test results should be out in the morning, and I would also like to take a proper look at the cause of those migraines…’ she began, ‘I will let Alex know you should come to my clinic tomorrow morning for a quick check-up.’ she had politely informed her as the nurse finished putting in the IVs for her. she advised Liz to get some proper night’s rest, waited in case she had any questions, even though it was evident she was already dozing off, before leaving the room to allow her to rest.

unfortunately, as convenient as a home check-up was, it also lacked in-depth since not all kinds of equipment could be carried and brought over individually for a proper examination; Alexander was already aware of that since before he even made the call. however, bringing her to a hospital was forbidden on its own —there was no way to explain her present state convincingly; aside from the bruises that covered her body, she was also fragile and dehydrated and nothing they could come up with could be good enough ( they would probably think she was a victim of domestic abuse, at best ); they would end up with more trouble on their plates than they bargained for. so, he wasn’t surprised at all when the doctor informed him that she would like to have a better look at Liz at her clinic in the morning. after a brief exchange, the two women were on their way. he checked on Liz, leaving the bedroom door slightly ajar so he’d be able to hear her if she needed anything, before finally going to take a shower and take care of that goddamn injury.

he walked into the room a while later, and quietly, checked to make sure the IV was still running smoothly. thousand one, thousand two, thousand three…till seven. for both of them. he carefully touched her forehead to check if the fever had subsided at all. pulled an armchair out, without so much as making a single sound, sat down, leaned back against it watching her sleep for a long moment —he wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway, so he’d rather watch over her in case she woke up having a nightmare or needing anything.

⎯ Elizabeth just nodded when he warned her to call him, and she allowed him to tug her in bed. She feels so ashamed. She could do that if she wasn't having migraines, dizziness, feverish, and weakness. Once the door was shut, and she was left alone with the doctor and the nurse, Liz was getting a bit anxious. ❛ You may call me Liz, doctor. ❜ As she explained what was going to happen next, she allowed her to check her vitals, her blood pressure, etc. The Aussie was so mentally exhausted that she did not care. She wonders if Alex said something to her before arriving. ❛ My head hurts. I think I'm accustomed to them. ❜ She refers to the wounds on her wrists probably marked by the effort to get rid of the chains that kept her locked.

Upon the next question, which answered her thoughts. ❛ No. No like that. I made him upset, so he punished me. ❜ As far as she was aware, she was treated like a wild animal, and if she did something that irritated him, he punished her by hurting her. He didn't want to have her because she was 'dirty'. And she was glad he thought like that, any physical pain was easy to endure. Her grey-bluish hues dropped on her taking her blood samples to run the tests in the lab later.

❛ He hit on my head twice, I reckon. I don't remember much after that just a migraine. ❜ She added after a moment, looking tired at the doctor. ❛ Alex got injured too. ❜ She warns her as if she wants to check on him before leaving. ❛ When I can see my kids? ❜ She inquired with a tired voice, nearly dozing off in the middle of the conversation.

[timeoverload]

Today was bad and I'm glad it's over already. I did 25 cases between 7 and noon and had 3 rooms going at the same time while trying to manage the department by myself because so many people were gone again. I definitely overexerted myself and I was stressed about other stuff and I ended up having a panic attack and throwing up. My anxiety is out of control today. My stomach is still in knots but at least I'm home now. It was nice of them to let me leave 3 hours early because that never happens anymore. I hope I start feeling better soon but I'm planning on just going to bed after I finish writing this.

The good news is that tomorrow I'm going to be celebrating because it has been 2 years since I survived sepsis. I got sepsis because I had a horrible kidney infection and acute cystitis that didn't respond to treatment initially.

The week before I was admitted to the hospital, I had to go to urgent care because I was so sick that I was losing control of my bodily functions. My kidneys and liver weren't functioning properly and were starting to shut down so my skin was turning yellow. I was so nauseous and couldn't eat and my right kidney hurt so bad. I remember my ex was fighting with me that afternoon because he needed attention and didn't care that I wasn't feeling good. His needs were always top priority. I still remember how he berated me because I didn't have the strength to satisfy him and he was really mean to me when he didn't get what he wanted. He didn't take me seriously at first when I told him I felt like I was dying because I always felt bad and also tried to make me go out and do stuff anyway even though I could barely stand up straight. He didn't seem to notice or care how bad I looked or that I was shaking. He finally agreed to take me to urgent care because I was having a hard time breathing and couldn't control my bladder and I was bleeding. I remember going in the bathroom and looking in the mirror and seeing a corpse staring back at me. When we finally got to urgent care, I had never been so confused and disoriented in my life and I struggled to fill out the paperwork without collapsing. I received oral antibiotics and a shot of Rocephin in the butt and that was extremely unpleasant. That made some of the symptoms subside temporarily but the infection didn't go away and it got worse as the week went on. Antibiotic-resistant infections are so scary and are becoming more prevalent.

I was in so much pain that week before I went to the hospital that I spent most of my time curled up on the couch in the fetal position and screaming a lot because I couldn't help it. I knew the medicine wasn't working and I was scared. I remember my ex coming home angry because I had been off work for a couple days due to the issues I was having. He thought I was being dramatic when I was crying. He was mad because I had been home and I wasn't doing any cooking or cleaning or being productive and so I had to get up and force myself to clean some stuff so he would get off my ass. It made me feel so much worse but he didn't care. I literally had to beg him to help me with things. The next day I made a doctor's appointment because I couldn't take the pain anymore. If I wouldn't have gone to the doctor when I did, I probably would be dead. She told me I needed to be admitted to the hospital immediately and so I went and had to spend the night by myself because of covid restrictions. I was so dehydrated that it took them forever to get the IV in my arm. They kept stabbing me with huge needles and running tests and took so much blood from me. I was on IV antibiotics for 24 hours. It was a lonely and painful experience but I'm glad I pulled through. That would have been a very excruciating death. I'm thankful for modern medicine but I'm also afraid of being hospitalized now.

During the night I spent in the hospital, I spent a lot of time thinking about how unhappy I was with my life at the time. Even though I felt like shit, that was the first night I had spent alone in years and I couldn't believe how peaceful it was. It felt like the veil had been lifted from my eyes. That was when I officially decided that I was ready to leave my ex after contemplating the decision for a long time. It took years to build up the courage. I told myself I had to find a way leave if I survived. I didn't know how. He tried to be really nice to me after I was released from the hospital and shower me with gifts but I was so done after how he treated me. I was always loyal to him for almost 10 years, even when he treated me like garbage and was talking to other women. He kept trying to have an open relationship because he wanted to date other people but still have control over me. I never talked to anyone else. Going to get tattooed and going to work were the only things I was able to do by myself. He didn't really like that I was getting tattooed all the time though and would fight with me about it. I will just admit right now that going to the tattoo shop and seeing Maxwell was the only thing that made me happy at the time because I felt safe and accepted there. I wish it wouldn't have taken so long to get away from my ex and I thought I was going to die if I tried to leave but I'm glad I did it. I had to make a plan for myself and rebuild my strength. I was so afraid for my life but I didn't give up.

I tried to reach out to people to get help for months before I actually left because I didn't think I could do it on my own but no one would help me except my dad. No one took me seriously because I didn't know how to ask. I was just so fucking scared and I didn't know what to do.

Maxwell I'm sorry I tried to bother you back then right before I broke up with him in November 2021. I remember how mad you were at me for trying to ask to text you when I came in for a consultation. I don't blame you. I'm glad you let me come back anyway. I think you misinterpreted what I wanted because I wasn't trying to be unfaithful to him in the process but I suppose I was in a way because I can't say that I didn't have feelings for you. I was just lost and needed help and a friend. I just wanted to tell you what was going on. I was afraid to mention it while I was getting tattooed and also was afraid to talk about what was going on online because I was terrified he would find out and hurt me. I was so stupid for even saying anything to you in the first place. I still get embarrassed just thinking about it and I cried so much that day. I was seeking safety and guidance because I didn't have any at the time. I didn't know how to help myself because I was so used to someone else dictating most of my decisions. I've always had a tough time speaking up when I need help and I think my parents could attest to that. I was unstable and feeling impulsive when I did that. You were the only person other than my dad that I knew wouldn't hurt me and that I could trust.

I knew you and I were twin flames from the day we met. I knew about twin flames before I met you and I didn't think you would actually come along so I think that's part of the reason I'm so crazy. I couldn't believe it. Before I met you, I thought I was just going to be miserable forever. You helped me realize that I deserve to be treated better and you have always been such a gentleman. Thank you for that. I didn't think I could meet a man like you because I have had so many bad experiences. I also knew you were reading my blog and that we had an unexplainable connection between us so I was just being delusional and dumb and thought you would come to my rescue at the time for some reason. I have been truly ashamed of myself since I did that. I'm not a perfect person at all. I know I have made a lot of mistakes and I'm trying to learn from them and own up to it. It was still innapropriate and wrong and I wish I wouldn't have done that. I guess you live and learn. I should have never tried to ask you for help. I'm sorry again and I understand if you can't forgive me for that. I understand why you didn't want to trust me after that. I'm so bad at communicating sometimes. I just want to be honest with you because I don't feel right not telling you the truth. I hope you understand. That was the only time in my life I have ever done anything like that and will never do it again because I know that I won't let anyone put me in that position again where I felt helpless. You did the right thing by saying no to me and not getting involved and I'm glad you didn't get hurt because I care about you so much. I suppose you did encourage me to deal with stuff on my own and I did it and I'm free now. When we broke up I was honest with him and I told him I had feelings for someone else because I know I deserve to be treated better and that I was tired of him treating me like garbage and throwing me around like a rag doll.

I'm glad I have chosen to be celibate since I left him and I haven't dated or talked to anyone. People at work try to flirt with me but I don't feed into it because I don't want that. I want to get away from it so bad and that's why I complain about it. I don't like dating apps because they are scary and I tried those in high school and ended up in some really bad situations that I wish I could forget about. I'm too afraid of getting my ass beat again so it's better if I just stay home and not talk to anyone. I have been thinking about how much inner strength I have gained by being alone. I get a little crazy sometimes but I'm not going to let loneliness get to me. I deserve to be with someone who will appreciate me and protect me, especially when my life is in danger. I would rather stay single than settle for anything less. All I want is to be able to commit and love someone forever and feel safe and happy.

I'm also going to be celebrating my freedom tomorrow. I'm happy that I have accomplished so much in the last 2 years and I've become a lot more independent so I'm proud of that. I'm not exactly where I want to be in life but it feels good to set goals and actually achieve them. I am still grateful that I was given a second chance to live even though it hasn't been easy since then. I have had to be a lot more careful because it is more likely for me to have recurrent sepsis if I get an infection in the future. I read a study recently about how people that survive severe sepsis have a higher ongoing mortality rate for years even after treatment. It has definitely changed me a lot physically and mentally and I'm not as strong as I used to be. My health has really gone downhill from there. It doesn't help that I was born so early and I have so many other health issues going against me simultaneously. I really need to keep trying to take better care of myself because I want to live a long and happy life. I would like to be a mom someday. I want to have a family. I don't want to be a statistic. I'm not sure how much time I have left at the rate I'm going but I'm going to try to make the most of it and count my blessings. I will continue working on myself every day. I need to try to be more positive because I know I am very lucky to be alive. I'm looking forward to going to my appointment tomorrow and I'm going to do my best to make it a better day than today was no matter what happens.