Avery Crittenden (word_of_law) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2011-06-27 19:50:00

Entry tags:

npc - avery crittenden, plot-"blood is thicker than...", sydney ashcroft

On The Road
The private plane touches down at Logan International airport at sundown and Avery's eyes snap open as he comes awake. He looks about wildly for a moment, uncertain of where he is, taking stock of the people around him. He's been feeling strange since the other night.

He's on this plane for a reason, but he doesn't know why. Furthermore, his mouth is so dry that he feels like he could drink a lake.

"Water..." he manages to croak, turning to Sydney.

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	sydney_ashcroft 2011-06-28 01:59 am UTC (link)
	Syd filled a glass from a pitcher and handed him the glass. "I think you should really see a doctor, Avery. You're getting worse." (Reply to this)(Thread)

word_of_law
2011-06-28 02:07 am UTC (link)

Avery forces a smile onto his face, trying to fake it until he makes it. He wasn't able to see Zoey for Father's Day or the day they left because he wasn't feeling well, but he couldn't let whatever he'd caught shut down his life.

He takes the offered glass of water and smiles at Sydney, hoping this fever goes down soon.

"Honey, I'm fine. Just a little head cold. If it gets worse, I'll go to a doctor. I promise." he says, leaning over to kiss her cheek. By god, she was warm...and she smelled different. It was something new, but not her perfume.

Something in that smell made his mouth water, and suddenly wanted Sydney then and there.

Instead, he takes a long, deep drink of his water, draining the glass quickly. Oddly enough, his mouth still felt like sandpaper.

"I think one more ought to do it." Avery says, passing her the glass again.

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sydney_ashcroft
2011-06-28 02:22 am UTC (link)

Sydney refilled the glass and passed it back. Syd was a mom and she did mom things to other adults. Like now when she put her hand on his forehead. "You're burning up," she said with a scowl. "I don't like this. We're going to the hospital as soon as we land."

She picked up her handheld computer and made arrangements for a car to pick them up and take them to Mass General.

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	word_of_law 2011-06-28 02:26 am UTC (link)
	"Sydney. Sydney, come on. Let's not raise an alarm over nothing. It's not even a real fever. I've just been a little warm." Avery protests, watching as Sydney pulls out her computer. He sighs, sits back and drinks his water. This was not going to go well. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2011-06-28 02:44 am UTC (link)
	"You look like death warmed over," she said. "You're pale and hot. I have godlings and I'm not afraid to use them even if it means one of them carrying you into a hospital." She leaned in and looked him in the eye. "I love you, I worry about you and you're going to the hospital." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

word_of_law
2011-06-28 02:55 am UTC (link)

"Yes, dear." Avery sighs. He really wanted to get to that lockbox today, but if they were going to the hospital, then that might have to wait. Besides, once Sydney could see that he was going to be okay, she'd probably relax.

"I love you, too, Sydney. We'll go to the hospital and then we'll get dinner. How does that sound? We'll hit the post office in the morning." Avery says.

Pause.

"Do I really look that bad?" he asks.

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	sydney_ashcroft 2011-06-28 02:57 am UTC (link)
	"You look bad enough for me to worry," she said and kissed his forehead. "It's a deal." She sighed with relief. She didn't want to fight him on it, but she would call the Defenders if he wasn't going to go. She wasn't above carrying through with her threats. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	word_of_law 2011-06-28 03:01 am UTC (link)
	"You know...if you want me to get better sooner, you could always put on one of those sexy nurse outfits and help me get better yourself. We could play doctor." Avery grins playfully. He'd prefer to keep Sydney from worrying, even when he knew she was really, really worrying. "Besides, your hands are likely to be softer than the doctor I'm going to end up with." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2011-06-28 05:54 pm UTC (link)
	"Yes, but I don't know anything about medicine or what could be wrong with you," she said. "It won't take that long and then we'll work on the mystery of yours." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	word_of_law 2011-06-29 12:08 am UTC (link)
	"All right. The hospital and then the hotel, and then we can get to work on solving mysteries. I bet Zoey would have loved to be in on this, if it weren't so crazy." Avery laughs. "Wait...you /did/ tell her no running off to save the universe while we were gone, didn't you?" he asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2011-06-29 12:18 am UTC (link)
	"I did. I told her and I put it in writing too," Syd said. She shook her head. "How many other parents do you know who have to tell a seven year old not to go running off to save the universe?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

word_of_law
2011-06-29 01:14 am UTC (link)

"You and I would be the only two. Most of the parents I know just have to worry about their kids talking to strangers or playing in traffic.

Our little girl befriends aliens, beats up cosmic entities and likes Starry Twilight." Avery says.

"Can I point out that Starry Twilight isn't really music? Zoey wants the new Rock Band that's coming out with those guys. I'm trying to avoid getting it for her, and hope she'll forget by her birthday."

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	sydney_ashcroft 2011-06-29 02:49 am UTC (link)
	"I know. I'm hoping it's a phase and she'll grow out of the whole Starry Twilight thing." Syd gave him a small smile. "She won't forget. Trust me." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	word_of_law 2011-06-29 02:52 am UTC (link)
	"If she doesn't forget, we know she got it from you." Avery grins as the plane lands and they're allowed to exit after several minutes. "No...to the hospital, right?" he asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2011-06-29 03:02 am UTC (link)
	"Hospital," Syd confirmed. Their bags were unloaded and put in the trunk of the car. The driver opened the door for her and Syd smiled at him before climbing in the car. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

word_of_law
2011-06-29 11:10 pm UTC (link)

Avery has to fight down a slight dizzy spell when he gets into the car, but otherwise, they make it to the hospital without issue.

Once inside, Avery informs the doctor of his symptoms and the doctor has a nurse take him to a room, where Sydney can wait with him.

After a bit of a wait, a second doctor comes in and Avery tells the doctor that he's just started feeling the symptoms, but leaves the exact date of when it happened a bit fuzzy, so as not to answer questions on what he was doing /before/ it occurred.

"Mr. Crittenden, we'll probably need to do some blood work to understand what's going on. I'll need you to get comfortable." the doctor says, standing up and nodding to both of them while he gets the tests ready.

Avery palms his face.

"This is not how I pictured today going." he says.

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	sydney_ashcroft 2011-06-29 11:52 pm UTC (link)
	"I know," she said as she brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes. "But it's for your own good. It's better to be safe than sorry." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

word_of_law
2011-06-30 12:16 am UTC (link)

"I know. I just...I'm a little worried, I guess." Avery says quietly.

The doctor returns with a nurse and they proceed to take a few blood samples from Avery. The next hour passes slowly, with Avery making small talk, before the doctor returns, a grave look in his eyes.

"Mr. Crittenden...it appears you're suffering a severe anemia. It explains your pallor, your fatigue and dizziness, and the other symptoms you've mentioned. Otherwise, your blood work had some other issues we need to discuss." he says.

Avery looks at Sydney, because they both know /why/ his blood work is all screwed up.

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	sydney_ashcroft 2011-06-30 12:22 am UTC (link)
	"I'll do enough worrying for the both of us." She kissed his forehead. Syd listened to the doc. "Let's hear it." She looked at Avery. "Unless you want me to leave the room?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

word_of_law
2011-07-01 12:46 am UTC (link)

"No, whatever the doctor says, he can say to both of us." Avery tells her.

"Very well." the doctor says. "Your body doesn't seem to be producing enough blood and the your red blood cell count is rather low. Furthermore, your body is producing a new chemical that I've never seen. We'd like to send your blood work to a testing center to see if we can identify it."

"Do I need give my consent for this?" he asks.

"Yes, we would need that, Mr. Crittenden."

"All right. Do what you need to." he says.

"In the meantime, we're going to prescribe some iron supplements and the like to get your body back in order. Luckily, you're a young man and otherwise healthy. You /can/ get this under control." he says.

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	sydney_ashcroft 2011-07-01 01:10 am UTC (link)
	Sydney held on to Avery's hand as the doctor spoke. She gave it a firm squeeze knowing full well that this meant for him. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

word_of_law
2011-07-01 01:23 am UTC (link)

"Well, I do want to get better, Doctor. I have a life to lead and we have a little girl a home. I like being able to play with her when she asks." Avery says with a smile.

"I should inform you that anemia can be hereditary, Mr. Crittenden. The two of you might want to keep tabs on your daughter's physical activity, as it can sometimes appear after several years." he says.

"We'll do that. Is there any chance I can go home tonight?" Avery asks.

"Honestly, I think it might be better if you spent the night, Mr. Crittenden. We can monitor your progress that way and make sure no issues crop up while you're here."

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	sydney_ashcroft 2011-07-01 02:46 am UTC (link)
	"I think that's a good idea," Syd said and squeezed his hand. "I'll be right here with you." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	word_of_law 2011-07-03 02:55 pm UTC (link)
	Avery squeezed Sydney's hand back, but looked over to her. "Baby, you don't have to stay in the hospital with me. We have that room and it's got a big bed. You deserve some comfort, especially lately." Avery tells her, kissing her hand. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)