2022-05-18 - What Bedside Manners?

(TXT to Ava) Ruiz : hey. gringa. how're you holding up?

(TXT to Ruiz) Ava : help

(TXT to Ava) Ruiz : guessing that means not so good. hold on, I'll come over.

(TXT to Ava) Ruiz : be there in ten or so.

The phone is silent on Ava's end in response.

True to his word, about eight minutes later, there's a crackle of tires and rumble of an engine out front before it's cut. Doesn't sound like the Charger, though. If she were to look out the front window, there's a blue pickup parked on the curb, and the cop swings out. Dressed, as per usual, in his battered leather jacket and grungy baseball cap and black jeans. Probably some sort of tee shirt with a clever slogan across the front, too, because that's how he rolls.

Door slammed, phone shoved into his pocket, he ambles up to the front door and thumps on it with his fist. Police style. "Ava?" he calls out. Guy's good at making sure his voice carries, scratchy though it is.

It's the middle of the night, the door to Ava's house is locked, of course. There's a baby upstairs and she's woken up, just barely. Just barely because she's lucky to have woken up and not just ended up being laid out unconscious in her own bed. It's a lucky thing the phone was close enough to touch, but getting that text out took a lot of moving that her stomach wasn't too pleased with. Ava flinches, arm moving down in order to press a hand over her stomach, pressing lightly against the skin. The claws raked but didn't break the skin. That would have been too easy. Internal damage. Bleeding? She lifts her head to try to see, only to hiss in a breath as stars dance in front of her eyes and she almost passes out. Head falls back against the pillow.

She's still lying like that, frozen in place when the door is pounded on and that voice calls out. Get up. Get up. Get up. He's going to wake Nimue. Get up. She slowly starts to move her whole body at once so that she doesn't flex those abdominal muscles at all, rolling herself up and off of the bed. But as soon as her feel hit the floor and her body straightens, that pain shoots right up through her, and she finds herself stumbling against the wall. Bad idea.

Her power reaches out to one of the potted plants in the living room. A vine extends out and reaches towards the door and the lock, clicking it out of place and jerking the door open for Javier. The vine hovers in front of him before gesturing towards the stairs.

Well, it's not the strangest way he's ever been greeted. But it's certainly up there. Javier hesitates a moment, hand going for his gun, eyes narrowed. But it's clear the vines are friendly, and probably under the druidic girl's control. So he settles slightly and shoves his weapon back into its holster. Up the stairs it is.

He's not exactly stealthy about it, either. And why bother? There's no sense sneaking up on her, in her current state. "Ava?" He nudges the door open to her room, holds it with an outstretched arm, and searches the dark for where she might be hiding. Not that it's difficult at all to pinpoint her location; hiding from an empath is no easy feat.

The vine cannot see the gun, because Ava cannot see it, so there is no fear of the gun. There is only an insistent gesture towards the stairs of the vine before it finds its way back to it's pot and goes still. There's a thudding noise a moment later against the floor that sounds an awful lot like a body against hard wood as Ava sinks down against the floor a little too hard. Standing up is hard, okay?

Thankfully the room is not that dark. Just like the garden out back, he'll notice that she doesn't allow full darkness here, either. Ever since that night that haunts her mind, she's terrified of the dark, so there's always light somewhere around her. In this case, a small hanging lantern display on the wall opposite of the bed. "Javi," she manages quietly. "I can't exactly heal myself." It's hissed out, a joke to try to make him more relaxed. Because that's what she does.

That sickening sounding thud is, at least, enough to pull his attention toward her. He moves over, and sinks down into a crouch beside her, sliding one hand beneath her head. "Well, I've got news for you," he murmurs. "Neither can I." There's some poking and prodding as he seems to feel around for signs that she banged her head and might have an obvious concussion. "Is there anyone you trust, that you want me to call over? Or am I taking you to the hospital?"

Because apparently, doing nothing is not an option.

Ava relaxes her head back in his hand and sighs through gritted teeth. "Zara or Aidan. Aidan is right next door, so that may be easier." She shivers against the hardwood floor. "It's internal bleeding. If I go to the hospital, they're going to operate to stop it. I'd rather the healing." The great thing about being a doctor is at least she can diagnose and prepare herself for the shit she'll have to go through if they can't get a healer. "If they aren't available? Hospital. If I go unconscious, hospital. Don't forget Nimue in the other room, okay?" She's having trouble talking that much, it's obvious. But it seems important.

"Understood." It's murmured low while he finishes checking her head. Then his arms are slid under her body; one beneath her shoulders, the other beneath her hips, and she barely weighs a thing, so it's almost no effort at all to hoist her up. "Don't forget Nimue. Got it. Now stop fucking talking. I'm going to make you comfortable, and see what I can do about Aidan, yeah? You got his number in your phone, I assume? Where's your phone?"

He turns her sideways, and eases her gently into the bed, puffing up the pillows as best he can so she's reclined in a semi-upright position.

"Make me," Ava grouses back with a faint smile. But despite the sass, there's no fighting as she's lifted and then settled back in bed. Her hand does reach for his wrist as he starts to puff pillows, however. "Opposite," is advised softly. " Flat on back, legs up for internal bleeding. Above heart." Her phone is right by her as she's laid back onto the bed. Her thumb swipes a pattern across the screen before she offers it up to him. His is the last text up, and look at that, his name has a little star next to it now. How cute.

"He's in there."

He's not even going to dignify that make me with a response, it looks like. It gets a soft snort from the cop, but nothing more. He's about to pull away, but her hand around his wrist and the little lecture about positioning for internal bleeding makes him remove the pillows. "The fuck do I look like, a nurse?" he grouses, tucking them under her knees instead. The phone's snagged as she passes it over, and he tugs her blanket up and over her, to make sure she stays warm.

Then he ambles off a pace or two and starts composing a message.

(TXT to Aidan) Ruiz : Is this Aidan? dorky looking guy? your friend Ava needs help. she's pretty badly hurt. can you come by?

(TXT to Ruiz) Aidan : i mean i guess that's your opinion and also yes brt

"With the right costume and hat, you could make it work, yeah. Imagine the look on Joe's face, it'd be worth it." In her mind, Ava's already ordering him a nurse's cap. There's only mild wincing as her legs are lifted and her body is shifted into the proper positioning so that she doesn't pass out from the wrong path of blood flow. "Thanks, Javi," she murmurs as she closes her eyes for a few moments and lets him handle the phone.

Regretfully, she'll find out in the morning.

(TXT to Aidan) Ruiz : I mean they say opinions are like assholes

(TXT to Aidan) Ruiz : I've just realised this is on her phone

(TXT to Aidan) Ruiz : shit

(TXT to Ruiz) Aidan : well i figured if it was her she wouldn't call herself my friend Ava. or not like that anyway. who is it? nearly there btw.

(TXT to Aidan) Ruiz : like I'm fucking incriminating myself

(TXT to Ruiz) Aidan : i mean you're gonna be there too when i get there right? 'cause you still have her phone and i'm already at the door.

(TXT to Aidan) Ruiz : fuck you're right

(TXT to Aidan) Ruiz : I'll be right down

Aidan is indeed right next door, and middle of the night means the odds are pretty good that's actually where he is at the time. As it turns out they collapse to 100%, because that is absolutely where he is, right up until he's out #3's front door and heading over to #1's. Middle of the night also means he's barefoot, in an old t-shirt extolling the benefits of visiting The Mystery Hole and flannel pyjama pants covered in skateboarding dinosaurs, so it's maybe not his absolute coolest ensemble, to be fair to Ruiz. To be fair to Aidan, he was just planning to sleep in it.

It's a short enough distance it doesn't particularly slow him down to text on the way, which is good for Ava's state... which he also reaches out to check on along the way. It gets him moving a little bit quicker, once he has. Not that he doubted she needed healing, but knowing makes it feel more urgent. Enough that the lock on the door is already clicking open by the time Ruiz's text about being right down hits his phone. "...don't worry 'bout it!" he calls up as he opens the door and steps in, closing the door and relocking it behind him before he starts up the stairs.

Ava's phone is set facedown by the bed (before he causes any more trouble with it) and the cop leans over to check on her briefly before going to head downstairs-- and hearing the call up, at about the same moment.

Paranoid asshole that he is, with reflexes practically baked in by now and well beyond his control, his hand drops to his gun. And stays there for a count of about four seconds. Enough for him to drop his mental defenses, allow his mind to wash over the immediate area, and determine that it is indeed only Aidan there. And no-one else.

At which point, the busker's greeted by a rather scruffy Chief of police in a battered leather jacket, baseball cap and jeans, with a tee shirt reading como te llama? and a cute cartoon llama on it. "She's, uh.. over here." He gestures to the bed, then shuffles awkwardly to one side.

That scan Aidan does shows that Ava should probably already be at the hospital. But Avas are a stubborn thing. Also, if she went, they'd probably want to do surgery, and she'd really rather avoid that if possible. So here we are. The two men meet while she rests in the bed in her room, surely someone will actually actually turn a light on at some point. Her eyes flutter half open once Aidan makes it upstairs, and she manages a crooked half smile. "Sorry for dragging you out. I hate not being able to do it myself. It'd make things a lot easier."

Even if Ruiz had different reflexes and had started to hurry down, they'd probably have met at least halfway up the stairs; as it is, it's at the door to the room in question, 'cause Aidan's long legs and lack of particular worry about his dignity have him taking the steps two at a time in light of that scan. "'kay, shade your eyes," he says, being the somebody to turn on the light as he steps inside and handily past a switch.

The closest thing the light illuminates is Ruiz, who thus inevitably gets a glance. "Awesome shirt," Aidan says, looking it over and giving the cop a fleeting smile. There are definitely people in town from whom, given the prior text, that might be a snide dig. The magician certainly looks as though it's sincere, though -- as is the way the smile fades back into concern as he heads toward Ava, looking over what he can see of her on the way.

"...I know, right?" he agrees, moving to the edge of the bed and settling very gently on the edge of it, "Don't apologise. We gotta watch out for each other." He takes a breath, and lifts a hand, moving it toward the spot he felt her injuries, even if they can't be seen. It hovers an inch or two away from actual contact as he asks, "Ready?"

Probably less about reflexes and more about the fact that the man doesn't have a hurrying bone in his body, generally speaking. He does try to smile, though, in return. It just sort of comes off like a snarling dog.

"I'll go find you something to drink," he murmurs. "Hope you've got straws." Then he ambles off to let Aidan work.

Ava has been tucked in, so the injured part of her is hidden. It's all internal damage anyway, so it's really really hidden. As Aidan comes to settle on the edge of the bed, her hand reaches out to rest on his knee with a thankful spark in her eyes. "Ready. Whatever it takes to keep me from being operated on." Because no thank you.

There's not a lot of energy in her right now. But there is enough for her brows to draw in, expression horrified at the thought of keeping straws in her house. Straws?!

Aidan nods once, and sets his hand very gently against the spot he felt things were worst -- very little pressure, particularly with the fabrics in between, but it's contact enough. Technically, it probably isn't necessary, though he's never thought to see whether he could do it from, say, still in his room next door. But it helps him focus, which he does, and warmth spreads from the hand, through the fabric, into and through and along the skin and muscles and organs beneath. If there were special effects, it'd probably be some kind of golden glow moving through the affected areas. As it is, there's just warmth, and the sensation of things beginning to repair themselves. It's neither cinematic nor the immediate, all-encompassing fix they once could offer, but it'll have to do.

He reclaims the hand with another breath, and sits back slightly. "How's things feel? Do you need anything? And what happened?"

Javier returns a short while later with a glass of water, and sets it by her bed. Hands jammed into his jacket pockets, he feels the need to point out gruffly, "You don't have any fucking straws." Because how's she meant to drink it while laid up in bed without a straw?

He loiters there awkwardly a moment or two, tonguetip pushed against the inside of his cheek. Then digs out his phone, and checks his messages while mumbling, "You need anything else from me?" Other than bedside manner, which he's clean out of.

Ava takes a sharp breath in as the healing starts, feeling her insides rearranging and starting their repair. First things first, stopping the unnecessary flow of blood to places there shouldn't be any. But, she does seem to breath a little easier after a few moments, which is always a great sign, right? "I know it's still going to suck for a few days, but now I know I'm not not likely to die if I don't get surgery, so that feels much better, thank you."

As for what happened, "Spirit birds. They were intense. But no, I don't need anything. Just time. You're amazing. Thank you." Aidan gets another smile.

Javier? He gets a faint smirk. "Of course I don't have straws. This isn't Chuck E Cheese." There's a little pause, lips pressed before she nudges her head lightly side to side. "I'll be fine. Thanks for checking on me."

Aidan winces a little. "Birds," he echoes, with a nod. "They weren't ducks, were they?" There's still some concern, both about that and her condition, but he returns her smile when he's given it. "You're welcome. Not like it's anything more than you'd do." A small pause. "If you want I can crash on your couch in case you do need anything, though."

Maybe even a straw, since, "Straws are useful, though. You can drink things lying down," a little nod toward Ruiz, apparently picking up what he was putting down there, "and you can use them kinda like pipette things and also they're just kinda fun." But he definitely doesn't have one handy. He barely even has pockets. Still, they're both on Team Straw, here, and he looks over to the cop again. "Also? Thanks for calling me over."

"Chuck E fucking Cheese," Javier mutters, skimming dark eyes over the young woman as Aidan's Song moves through her. "I don't believe you," he replies, gesturing with his phone. "But I need to go check in on Joe before I can come back and babysit you. So you're going to have to manage for.." He checks his watch. "An hour, I'd say. Grab you both something to eat on my way back, though, if you want."

He pauses on his way out the door at the comment from Aidan. Thanks for calling me over. And eventually nods. "De nada. Thanks for, uh." He nods toward Ava, hesitates a moment more, then shoulders his way out.

"You really do hate ducks, don't you?" Some day when Ava is up for it, she's going to ask about that. Today is not that day, however. "They weren't ducks. They were far more dangerous. I kept you both for too long. Would you please just check on Nimue though, and make sure she's sleeping okay?" That one is for Aiden with a hopeful look.

Then they're ganging up on her regarding straws and she is trying very hard not to laugh, because the pain is excruciating. Javier gets a squinty eyed look, but there's no argument, her head falling back against the pillow. "Tell him I said hi."

Aidan mutters something under his breath that may possibly be "that's what they want you to think" as far as what's far more dangerous, but nods to the request. "Sure, I can look in on her."

He gives Ruiz a little upnod and small smile in return for the thanks, resisting any urge to say they aren't necessary. "I mean, it's not like I had a lot of immediate plans," he notes to Ava afterward, "...I'm gonna stay at least the hour, if he's coming back, though. In case. 'cause you shouldn't be moving around much yet." And in the service of this, yes, he does indeed go to check on the baby, though what he's going to do if she isn't sleeping okay is an open question. Is 'sleepy' an emotion one can Mentally share effectively? He might end up finding out.