I woke the next morning eager to check on Riv. No time to gawk at my reflection, no time to get dressed and presentable. I quickly stood up, shook my head, and peeled the comforter off of me, hopping off the mattress. I stopped for a moment to stretch my legs and back, pulling my sleepwear from any place it'd gotten bunched up.

I slept horribly, worried about my sick child. Daniel kept me company into the night, both of us working on our respective paperwork and passing time with a little idle conversation. Here and there one of us would go downstairs to make some kind of small snack as we both missed dinner. Aside from the tension of the recent development it was nice having a friend to talk to and...possibly scare away the staff. Morissey's staff seemed more threatened by Daniel than by me, though given they probably saw his encounter with the construction workers I couldn't really blame them. Sometimes fear is healthy.

Overnight he took the room next to Riv's. He left for a short while before then to run home and grab a few changes of clothes, saying he'd likely be here for at least two more days. Though asleep, I admit I felt safer with him here in the same manner I felt safer with Kuri here. Kuri was kind enough to sit with me during Daniel's short absence, which was enough for me to explain the goings-on with Riv. He seemed understanding.

With my pajamas on I walked briskly down the hall to a specific closed door. Opening it led me into Riv's room, where the child still slept. Quietly I walked in, gently putting the back of my hand across his forehead. He still seemed warm, but not as bad as yesterday. My movements woke him, his slowly blinking his foggy eyes open and turning his head to better see me.

"Good morning, sleepy," I softly said, combing through his hair with my fingers. "I'm sorry I woke you; I just wanted to see if your fever improved any."

He responded with a big yawn and a stretch of his legs as he continued to lie there.

"Do you think you're hungry enough today for some breakfast?" I asked. "I won't make anything more than you can handle and I will be up here with you."

Slowly he nodded his head.

"Alright, good," I said. "Do you need to use the bathroom yet?"

He nodded, so I stood up and extended my hand. He reached up to take it, my pulling him up to his feet.

He was a little unsteady while walking, probably from dehydration. Unfortunately that wasn't likely to improve much from here as I led him to the bathroom and opened a stall. Once he closed and locked the door I left the bathroom, waiting just outside with my back against the wall. Not a minute later I was startled by another door opening, releasing a dressed Daniel into the hallway. After his own big yawn and stretch of the legs he turned his head toward me, looking me up and down.

I recoiled a bit, remembering I was still in my sleepwear. Reflexively I wrapped my arms around myself, cowering away and turning aside with my ears back and knees bent. From the edge of my sight I could see his head cocked to the side and his face baring a look of concern.

"I was just lookin' to see how they fit, Reverend," he quietly said. "Sometimes it's hard to tell how somethin' will fit 'less you're there to try it on. I didn't mean to put ya on the defensive."

I couldn't muster any words. I don't know what about it was so embarrassing given I was still almost as clothed as I would be in my work attire. Though, I don't know many who'd want to be seen in their sleepwear, I suppose.

"...You ain't gotta me afraid of me," Daniel said, barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry I scared ya. I'll turn around and you can head back to your room to change, if ya'd like. I won't turn back around until I hear the door close."

"...Okay."

He did as he said he would, turning around and giving me an out. I felt small and stupid, but took the offer and ran to my room to quickly change and comb my hair. I didn't know what my problem was-- this was my house, yet the thought of someone seeing me less than put-together...hurt, somehow.

As I opened my door Daniel seemed to be missing. I slowly walked down the hall with my head low until he reappeared, coming out of the bathroom with Riv in tow. He saw my advance and turned his head toward me.

"Y'feel better?" he asked, his ears dipped a bit low.

"...Y...Yes," I uttered, squeezing my arm. "Sorry about...that."

He just smiled and shook his head as he continued walking Riv back to his room. I entered after them, his sitting Riv down with some of that electrolyte drink.

"So far more of the same from this one, here," he said, pulling out his thermometer. "Fever feels a little better and he seems more steady, so after gettin' somethin' down I'm gonna try gettin' him in the bath. Sure he feels awful bein' so sweaty like this."

"...Would a banana with some toast be acceptable?" I asked, fidgeting with my fingers.

"That'd be fine, yes," he said, holding the thermometer. "No milk for a few days, though, alright?"

"...Alright. I'll go make those."

I sped to the kitchen to heat my skillet, dropping a small amount of butter in the pan. In the meantime I grabbed a small plate, opening and placing half a banana along the side. As the pan continued to warm up I sliced two pieces from the bread loaf and set them aside, finally adding them to the pan once the butter was melted and bubbling. Hopefully the small amount of fat from the butter wouldn't irritate his bowels further.

With everything finished and accompanied by a glass of water I took the food upstairs. Nudging open the door I presented Riv with his small breakfast, kneeling beside Daniel as Riv slowly ate.

"Temperature went down a bit to a hundred," Daniel said, watching Riv carefully eat his toast. "Not a huge improvement, but still one nonetheless. At noon, d'ya mind comin' up to sit him while I check on my culture in the infirmary? I might have somethin' to go by already."

"Yes, of course," I said.

"I'll prob'ly be spending most of the day up here, otherwise," he said, petting Riv's head. "Think'll also throw something simple together for lunch during that bit o'time if you don't mind waitin' a little bit. Won't take long, just want someone up here with 'im as often as possible."

"That is fine, yes."

"Are you gonna be alright?"

"This isn't about me."

Daniel sighed.

Riv ate everything on his plate, slowly washing it all down with the glass of water. I took his plate and glass and stood up to bring them downstairs.

"Also, Reverend," Daniel started, "please don't be too shocked if your kid here pukes once or twice. It can happen with both possibilities. I'll inform you of everything he does so you, as a parent, are as aware of what's goin' on as I am, alright? Everything is also logged in writing and kept in his records should it ever be needed."

"...I understand, Daniel. Thank you for your help."

I walked to the door, stopping in the doorway.

"...By the way," I began, "...the pajamas fit nicely and are soft and comfortable. Thank you for getting them...and I'm sorry for my reaction this morning."

"Didja want to talk about it?" he asked. "Surely plenty o'people don't like bein' seen in their sleepwear, but..."

"...Sorry."

I quickly made off with the dishes before he could get a word in edgewise. I didn't dislike him or his concerns, I just didn't...didn't want to burden anyone with things that don't matter, that shouldn't matter. Riv was sick; that was our priority.

When I got downstairs Morissey was already here to pick up yesterday's work. Fortunately I had already taken it downstairs last night in case the morning drug on as it did.

"One moment, please, and I'll be right there!" I called down the hall as I raced to the kitchen to wash up the dishes.

It only took a couple minutes to get everything clean and set to dry. I raced back to the lobby, not wanting to disappoint Morissey further with my tardiness. He looked at me from in front of my desk, hands behind his back, as I gripped the edge of the corridor and panted slightly.

"I'm...sorry I'm late," I mustered. "I needed to get Riv checked over this morning. I--"

"Have you been getting enough sleep?" Morissey interrupted, his face firm and puzzled.

"Uh...I'm...I'm sorry?" was all I could think to say.

"You look underslept is all," he observed.

"I-I'm sorry, it's just...I've been so worried about Riv," I said, tugging at my sleeve. "Daniel said he'd be alright, so I think he will be. It's...that there's nothing I can do to help him feel better. I'm powerless...and I hate it."

"...I see."

He placed his hand on a folder for today's work, sitting atop the rim of my desk.

"Perhaps this can help you get your mind off of it for a little while," he said. "I need this done by tomorrow, unfortunately, as a new branch has opened in a nearby settlement and you are currently one of the most efficient employees I have, especially in this subregion. I did not think they would be so eager to open before the week was over, but you've been doing so well--"

"I'll do it."

"...If need be I can see if other staff will take care of--"

"Morissey, I will do it. I need...I need this."

He seemed taken aback by my interruptions.

"...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt," I said, my eyes to the floor. "I...need this."

"Very well," he sighed, parting from my desk. "I will extend your deadline a bit to tomorrow evening. That should still be enough time to get the assignments to the settlement before the weekend is over. I will come by during then should this compromise suit you."

"Y...Yes, please, if you're willing," I replied.

"That is fine to me. I will still come by in the morning with your pay so you will not be going without and I will include this assignment's price in your compensation for this week. I trust you will have it finished by the evening in return for the advance payment."

"Yes, of course...and, if you could bring me a bit of work for the weekend, I'd appreciate it. I really want to get him some new sheets."

"...That can be arranged, yes," he uttered, walking back toward the door. "Thank you for your hard work."

With his ears raked back he turned once to look at me before departing, his expression tense. Maybe my eyes deceived me, or perhaps it was the sunrise, but something about his eyes looked a bit...red.

With a heavy sigh I made my way to my desk, jumping into my work for the day.

---

Noon rolled around, as it does. Just as requested I headed upstairs to relieve Daniel from his post so he could check his culture in the infirmary. With his instruction I removed the cap of an electrolyte drink and gave it to Riv, who still seemed foggy and distant. He was at least much cleaner now, Daniel having showered him after his breakfast. Sick as he was, the little boy still enjoyed his cheeks and scalp lightly scratched. From his dresser I grabbed his hairbrush and carefully pulled through his umber locks as he slowly closed his eyes.

"Does this feel good?" I asked.

"...Mhm," he mumbled.

Once his hair was untangled he slumped over onto my front in a sort of sloppy hug, wanting to cuddle. I couldn't say no, pulling him close and resting my nose atop his now-clean head, my eyes slowly closing. I remember feeling similar to this when I was around his age and I'd gotten sick, though my parents wouldn't really entertain my requests. Even if Riv wasn't...truly mine, I couldn't fathom turning him away, especially like this. Without thinking I felt myself slowly rocking forward and back with him in my scrawny arms, quietly humming a familiar tune.

It was...that tune you hummed to me when you held me like this.

"Reverend?" came Daniel's voice from my left.

I startled and came to, gasping and folding back my ears as I looked to him. He just tilted his head with his ears uneven and his expression one of hesitant curiosity as he held two plates of food in his hands.

"S'alright, Reverend," Daniel said, presenting me a plate of food. "Just wanted to give ya your lunch. I didn't mean to startle ya."

With apprehension I accepted the plate. Riv peeled himself off of me enough to do the same, rubbing his foggy eyes and semi-consciously placing the plate on his lap. On my plate was another salmon sandwich accompanied by the other half of the banana from this morning and a leafy spinach salad with sunflower seeds, nuts, and dried cranberries with a tart vinaigrette. On Riv's plate was a small array of crackers, some toast, another half of a banana, and a few spoonfuls of applesauce.

Daniel pat my head to comfort me in my nervousness before heading back downstairs to get his own plate. I started eating right away to have more time to throw at that pile of work I got from Morissey. It looked like no small matter, whatever it was, and I would be likely working most of the night and all of tomorrow to get it done...as well as whatever extra work Morissey would have for me.

I stopped chewing and just stared at my plate, nervous about how much work I'd be taking. I wanted to be as available as possible while Riv felt unwell, but with my pay lessened lately and with some of the things I wanted to get him I needed the extra work. Without Daniel here there's no way I'd be able to handle this...I simply can't be in two places at once.

Daniel arrived again shortly with a plate of his own.

"Somethin' bothering you?" he asked as he took a seat on the floor.

"N...No, sorry," I said, resuming eating. "Just tired."

"...Alright, then," he quietly said, dripping with doubt. "So, I checked the culture and it appears to be E. coli. It's a good thing I didn't bother with antibiotics as that'd likely make it worse. However, it's still gotta run its course and there'll be plenty of diarrhea and unsteady walking for the next few days."

"But he'll get better?" I asked.

"He'll get better, it just won't be a fun time," he answered. "He'll need plenty of water and electrolyte fluid to keep him hydrated and he'll be in mild pain in the gut region for a little while. I assure ya, though, that it'll pass. What I'm most concerned about right now is the cause."

"...I was wondering that."

"So, the thing about this, and salmonella by extension, is that it's transmissible usually by contaminated food or water. Things like raw or undercooked meat and eggs or unwashed vegetables can lead to something like this."

"...Sure, but...we've all eaten the same food, at about the same time, and occupied the same areas. If it's foodborne then why did only Riv get sick?"

"You see my concern, then. While it's certainly possible that it's just because he's young and not fully developed yet, I ain't so sure I buy that reasoning. He may have gotten into something we don't know about and he's just too delirious to recall for now, as kids do, but..."

"'But?'"

"Hm. Nothin', I guess. Just keep an eye on 'im, see if he might be eating or handling something less than clean. Might've been some bad luck and I'm just paranoid."

"Alright, that's...doable."

He took a bite of his sandwich.

"How're you holdin' up?" he asked. "Got some baggy eyes today. You sleepin' enough?"

"As much as I can...with all of this and work going on, I suppose," I replied, looking away. "I wish I could do more about all of this."

"Well, Reverend, you already work real hard with what you do," he observed, taking another bite. "Riv means a lot to ya, it's plain as day, but please don't break yourself. I know all of this is stressful, but adding to that stress won't help ya none."

"...It's all I know how to do, Daniel," I said, barely audible. "I don't...have any talents, I don't have a career field, so I just...work what I do until I feasibly can't anymore, if only to make his life in this place a bit better."

"...I can't force you to do somethin' y'ain't willin' to, but," he swallowed a mouthful of salad, "I'd really...really suggest humoring my offer for an ear, sooner rather than later."

"...Maybe someday."

Daniel sighed and didn't try pushing the matter further. I hated being a disappointment, but I needed to stay focused on my work. I needed to stay focused on Riv's care and general livelihood. There were simply more important things at hand and I couldn't afford to steer away from those...at least not right now.

It was...going to be a very long few days.

---