#anywhere

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Symon takes his phone out. He said he would call the Hearth and let her know. And if he doesn't? A redcap will blab it later on then get mad he didn't

When he calls the Lodge, it's a few rings before it gets picked up. "Hello?" It's Kerri.

-fsshhfssh fshhh hhss- A sluagh mumbling on the line.

(is it one central lodge line? Well, I suppose he wouldn't be likely to have Kerri's direct cell for any reason, assuming she does have one.)

(It's the central lodge line, yes.) "Hello?"

He speaks up, "Uh, is Mrs. Davidson there?" Guarded, he hasn't called this line before - She knows this voice!

"Yes, hello, is that...Symon, is that you?"

"Hearth?" He checks. "Uh, I'm sorry to bother you. It's, um. Yeah, it's Symon. I wanted to ask... you can heal right? Does it.. can you..." An awkward silence. "Does it work if you're sick?"

"Sick? Sometimes. Not always. Symon, are you all right? What's going on?"

"Do you need help?"

"No, I'm fine, it's just..." A pause, "I'm sorry to bother you, I know you don't... uh. It's not for me, it's Ann Marie. She has the flu really bad, she collapsed this morning. Please, can you help?"

"She collapsed? I'll be right over, Symon. Did she hit her head?"

"No, she was in the kitchen and almost fell over, dropped her coffee right on the floor. She's in bed now, and Da is looking after her, but..." He stops, and, defensive, though it doesn't seem to be directed at Kerri, "Everyone just takes so much from her, and she's got nothing left and keeps doing more and more, and now she's sick and I can't DO anything." Anger, maybe or guilt, or both.

A pause. "Oh...Symon, I'm...I'm sorry. Of course, I'll be right over, and I'll bring something that will help. Is your father still home?"

He puts a hand over the phone and leans out to call softly, "Dad?" Checking to see if he ran back to the office, or to the store, or is still on hand.

It takes a moment "Son, everything well?"

With the unspoken 'Besides with your step mother'

"Yeah, just checking, sorry. I'm talking with Mrs. Davidson." Back to the phone, "He's here now, yeah. And - I know, he's a doctor, but they don't have a cure for the flu..."

"No. When I come, please try to get him out of the room for a few moments while I visit with her. I'll try first, but if I fail, you give him something to attend to for a few minutes. On my way now."

"Got it. Thanks." He paces for a bit, then goes to put on water for tea. He still has that much sluagh cred, at least.

"Mrs. Davidson is well?" His father says as he puts on tea

"Yea - yes, sir." He nods. "She's going to stop by, if that's okay? She has her flu shot already, but I think she's just worried and wanted to check in on her friend."

"I should discourage it. Mrs. Davidson is , I hear a fan of holistic healing an so forth." Dubious look, "But it is the in thing. So help me though, if I see one candle with a special blend or a crystal waved."

"No sir. Just some tea maybe, and even if it's herbal the.. the steam might help clear her hear a bit?"

"Liquids are important." He adds.

"Yes, that does have merit." A nod "As does some support. Yes. Mrs. Davidson is welcome"

It's not much later that Mrs. Davidson arrives, and with company. Mrs. King is with her, and both of the tall women look concerned. "Hello, Dr. Lee, Symon. I'm so sorry to hear that Ann Marie is unwell!" Kerri effuses. "Did it come on suddenly?"

He looks a little taken back, but introduces Brekke, in case she hasn't been by before. He admits a little sheepishly, "I'm not sure... if she was sick earlier, she didn't say anything..."

Dr. Lee says "Unfortunately, my schedule at work had kept me quite busy. Symon may have noticed, but...well, Anne Marie has always pushed herself too hard so I fear she may have ignored some signs herself. My wife is... willful."

Despite his words, truly empathic people might note the tone of concern.

"Please, come in, Mrs. Davidson, Mrs. King." If they have not already, "If you have both had your shots?"

"Dad, can you help in the basement for a moment? I tried to do some laundry, but I don't know how much of the bleach goes in." A deceptively clueless tone. "It kills germs, so I figured it would be good for her clothes in case she had been sick for a while?"

"Well, we won't exhaust her, but we'd like to see her, if you don't mind?" Kerri smiles. "And yes, we've been innoculated."

A nod from Kerri to Symon. Brekke is quietly concerned, perhaps a bit awkward in the small-scale house.

"An asian american who can't handle laundry. Well, at least you defy stereotypes. Excuse me." A firm nod to Simon "Show them to her please, son. If there is any trouble or anything anyone needs come down to me immediately"

Kerri winces a bit when Dr Lee is gone. "Good idea, Symon, but if he bleaches the wrong things, she won't thank him." A wry grin of experience.

"Thank you for calling us, Symon," Brekke says, her voice low.

He watches his dad go, then allows a thin smile. "He forgets that I did the laundry before Ann Marie moved in... Florence, our old cleaning lady, taught me. And then I could keep my stuff away from the flowery detergent. Sorry, here, I think she might still be..." He raps lightly on the bedroom door, leading them as he spoke, and peeks in. "Ann Marie, are you awake?"

A small nod to Brekke.

"mm did it happen again ?" Anne Marie says then looks around "oh. no. it didn't. I.. oh guests? but I Look a fright"

"It's quite all right, Ann Marie." Kerri enters the room smoothly. "You know that doesn't matter right now. I brought you something...do you think you can eat a bit of soup?" A small thermos is in her hands.

Symon backs out of the room, letting Kerri work, not wanting to get in the way.

"Oh, I've been stuffed with broth earlier... " she smiles "but yes I can handle more..about all I can handle really. Kerri, you shouldn't be...here. who is with you? is that the chief? no no... you two have important things to tend to..."

"You are important, Ann Marie," Brekke rumbles. "I am sorry this has happened."

"Well, I'm glad I won't have to bully you to take this." Kerri passes her the full thermos cup. " Now, it has a Heatherbalm on it, but otherwise it's just good chicken broth. The Heatherbalm should help any damage to your lung tissues from the coughing, but otherwise I don't know how much it'll do to really help the flu go more quickly."

"Symon," Brekke says, "may we speak in the hallway a moment?"

"Oh my, did Symon put you up to this?" At the mention of the heatherbalm, "And Brekke, it's not your fault. If anything I should have seen it coming on sooner. Foolish."

"Hush," Kerri says. "Drink."

He is right outside the door, hovering, and nods, stepping out of the way so she can move through. To the Chief in a quiet voice, as though in a sick ward - which they somewhat are? - "I was thinking... my cantrip that senses weaknesses? I could use that, as a diagnostic tool. Finding weakness could be to help heal, not just to take something down. But I didn't know if it would do any good here, we know already that she's sick..." He trails off. "I'm sorry you had to come out here. But. Thank you for coming."