#scarsdale

Judy remains a few moments longer to finish checking the charts, nodding in approval as she notes that his temperature seems to have fallen a bit more towards normal levels, before heading out to leave the two to stay, or go.

"If you live, I might come back again." As Ratchet walks out.

"See you soon, Hehe." A sigh, and she follows her Uncle out.

"Not if I see you first!!!" the bed-bound man fires back. To the nurse's clucking.

Ratchet is limping down the hall.

Zara slips after him, a pale shadow.

The upholstered car is waiting, warmed up.

"I brought the Volvo... is mama here? She wasn't at home."

"Hannah? No, she's home, I'm sure."

A twinge of a frown, and she leans in to blow on the glass of the Very Upholstered Car's window.

"Mama who raised me, Mama of mine, let me see thee with my two eyne..."

Hannah is in bed. Well. ON bed.

Home. That established, she wipes away the fog of her breath instead of further spying.

"Glamour now?"

"Feh. I'm fine."

She raises an eyebrow.

"You want I should explain to Hirim that his husband 'fined' his way to sleep?"

"You wouldn't."

"I won't, you're right. Go home, Ratchet. Get some sleep." She pecks him on the cheeks and... yes. Dangit. Sneaky sloo.

He hisses, glares. "So free with it."

"For those I love? Aye."

"Feh."

A grin at ratchet.

"Hmmph." He squints at her. "You going home?"

"Probably?"

"You're going home." Finality.

"Yes, Ratchet. Be careful."

"Hmph. See you there." He gets into his car.

Plushly seated.

Zara goes to the volvo. Scoot scoot scoot.

And when she gets there. Ratchet is already there. And inside.

Inside. Checks for warm beverages - tea and coffee. "Mama, I'm home."

Hannah bustles forward. "Rachmiel said. He told me. You sit. Have some tea."

"He told... how much?" Zara sits, biting on her lower lip.

"I didn't... I couldn't...."

"Zara...." She glances at Ratchet, dazzled. Enchanted. "Zara...."

Zara blinks as she realizes - Zara, white-haired and stick-thin. The same sober eyes, black as ink, but set in a face so gaunt as to be alien. "Mama?"

"Yes, of course. What else?" Zara gets a cup of scrumy tea.

"So?" She moves around as surely as ever, if, perhaps, a bit tired. "Where've you been?"

She takes the cup, cradling it close with spidery fingers.

"The Dreaming."

"It... I went to rescue Earl. I d-d-didn't think that... that if I did what she asked, I didn't think she would actually keep her promise. So I went to get him."

"Earl? Nice boy, I think. Who ... what, what happened then? Rach... Rat-chet... he told me some... ?"

"Earl is a troll, mama."

"One of the big ones, yes?"

"Yes. Big and tall and blue. Strong."

"He... Someone took him, and.. and she wanted me to trade for him, and said if I waited too long, she'd hurt him. Cut off his.. fingers, maybe hands... and.. and if I told, she'd just kill him..."

Zara seems to be hiding behind her hair, studying the tea.

Hannah pales. "Earl? Is he ok?"

"I found him. Brought him back home. He... he was hurt, but Clem says he'll heal. I don't know if she knows I rescued him yet or not. Probably by now she does..."