Tenth PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

[open call]
 . . . Hello?  Um.  Is this . . . Is this the right number?  This is Mayfield Elementary . . . ?

I'd, um.  I'd like to call in sick.  Lucas . . . Last name?  Ushiromiya.  . . . . . . . .  There isn't any -- A-Ah.  Lucas . . . Lucas Fawlin . . . Grade 7.  No, I just haven't been feeling well . . . Ah.  Mostly fever . . . . . . . . A hundred and um.  Three or four.  U-Up my . . . No.  No.  My mouth . . . A few days.  No.  I haven't seen the nurse . . . Um.  Not yet . . .  My parents . . . ?  They're not home.  And I . . . I don't want to bother them . . . I don't know.  I . . . I really don't think I can.  I don't . . . But I -- I know, but.  It's just . . .  I'm really not . . .

. . .

O-OK.  OK.  I'll try . . . I'm sorry for the trouble . . .

[Ten minutes after this call is made, an unsteady figure walks out the steps of 846 Goldberg, his face flushed and his eyes glossy.  Twenty minutes after that, the boy slowly begins to kneel to the sidewalk somewhere on the route to school, but fails to make it all the way before collapsing forward.  He does not get back up.]

((Feel free to make responses to the phone call or anytime that Lucas is spotted on the street, either after he faints or before.
EDIT: For continuity's sake, I'm going to refer to Margot as finding Lucas first if I make any reference to this simply because she had the first thread.  I wasn't expecting so many replies; thanks everyone!  He'll still remember everyone's kindness to him, though.))

Comments

[heartstar-blues.livejournal.com]

[Flying Captain! This time without fear of death.

Would see a familiar boy collapsed on the sidewalk and land a few feet away. Stumbling at first, then steadying himself he'd rush over.]

Hey! Kid? You okay!?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Alas, Lucas is unable to see his favorite superhero in action. The boy does not respond at all to the Captain. Symptoms: hot skin, glassy, dilated pupils, sweat. It's probably easy to determine that he's got a high fever.]

[heartstar-blues.livejournal.com]

[He wasn't sure what was wrong with the kid, but he needed help. The Captain was recently told who he can go to for medical help.

Scooping up and cradeling Lucas, The Captain would fly. Protecting the kid from bugs, branches, birds and whatever else got in his way as he shot towards the hospital. Landing outside and rushing with Lucas through the doors.]

Dr. Crane! Someone get Dr. Crane fast!

((Mind if I poke him to thread jack?))

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

((XD Crowe is actually doing the same thing! I have no idea how Crane-mun wants to handle it, but go ahead.))

[The rush of traveling at a ridiculously high speed towards the hospital unprotected unfortunately heralded the end of poor Lucas as a stray rock hit him in the head at 100 mph. Alternatively, the flight went without incidence and this is a filler post. Lucas is still not responsive.]

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

[Ichabod was working the emergency room today and saw a familiar face that matched the voice as he looked over his shoulder while discussing a chart from another patient.]

I have this one.

[He said as he pushed passed a nurse and hurried over to The Captain and the little boy in his arms.]

Come with me.

[He lead them both into a quiet room in the back and closed the door once The Captain was cleared.]

[heartstar-blues.livejournal.com]

[He'd follow with the boy hurrying as fast as he could while on two feet. He may be incompetent but he didn't want to see a kid die.]

Where should I put him?

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

[He quickly sets a blanket on the bed before turning around to grab another one.]

On the bed is ideal. I will need to start some fluids on him.

[The fact that he was working on a child made him work even harder to ensure that he would be well.]

Do you happen to know how old he is?

[heartstar-blues.livejournal.com]

Not a clue, I'm sorry.

[He wanted to help but he had no clue when it didn't come to beating things.]

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

[He leans in to check the child's heart rate using his stethoscope, warming it in his hands first before he placed it against the hot skin.]

Young man, can you hear me?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas has roused a little after so much jostling around and general hubbub. He clearly nods, and his eyes half-open.]

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

[He uses a light to check his eyes. His voice was calm despite his nerves are on edge from the adrenaline coursing through from the urgency.]

I will have to start an I.V. drip to help you along and give you a shot. Do you think you can handle this?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[A what? Lucas frowns a little. There was really nothing that could help his fever aside from letting it pass by itself.]

. . . I don't know what that is . . .

[heartstar-blues.livejournal.com]

[The Captain stood back, watching. Relieved the kid was conscious at least.]

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

[He furrowed his brow and looked at his vitals, the one thing that made things a little more confusing was that the fever wasn't exactly normal and looked at the boy.]

It matters little at this point though I am curious...how did you get this?

[He wasn't familiar with Psi-fevers or what happened that caused it. It was...confusing to him at best.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Ungh. Talking. Lucas mumbles something a few times, completely unintelligibly, before he makes a greater effort to be audible.]

The more I fight . . . The more my PSI grows. It's because of the PSI . . .

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

[He nods his head and looks at The Captain and smiles. He's familiar with some of the abilities that some people had but not in its entirety and he began to understand that the little boy, Lucas could have pushed himself to the point that he made himself ill.]

He will be fine. Lucrecia had made mention to me once that people with some special abilities earn some negative effects from their growing powers. I shall keep an eye on him to make certain that he will be well. My hope is that he suffered no trauma through this fever.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Well that wasn't exactly it but Crane had the general idea. Lucas was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable about being in a hospital, but his exhaustion and fever overcame that.]

Thanks . . .

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

[He looks to Lucas and smiles, keeping his voice calm.]

You are welcome. I know this place offers little to the comforts to you and I am certain that you would like to go home so I will call your...[He clears his throat as he says it since he knows that families are hardly real here.]...parents to come and take you home.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas's first response is to protest. He didn't want to inconvenience them, there really wasn't any need, etc. But . . . After a bit of thought, he nodded in assent. If there was ever a time to be looked after, it was now.]

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

[He gave Lucas a pat on his shoulder after he noticed the nod and left the room to call his parents. After a few minutes, he returned to the room and had a cup of broth on a tray.]

Do you think you can handle something hot?

[He set the tray down next to the bed and slowly sat down.]

They should be here any minute to come and pick you up.

[He checked the boy's pulse and temperature again. Satisfied, he smiles.]

All you need is rest and a lot of care. You're a tough boy and you'll be just fine.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[He slowly sits up, not sure if he really wanted to eat anything at all, but he wasn't going to refuse the doctor's kind gesture. As he picks up the cup in one hand, he reaches out his other hand as if to gesture for Ichabod to wait.]

I'm Lucas . . . Thank you again.

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't move and nods his head.]

It is a pleasure and you are very welcome, Lucas. I am Dr. Crane.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

It's nice to meet you . . .

[Lucas sounds stronger now as he sips at the hot broth, feeling the warmth spread throughout his whole body. It wasn't the only thing, either -- The more he drinks, the more Lucas seems to . . . *sparkle*]

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

[He sat back in his chair and watches with complete interest and what he was seeing not only startled him, but enlightened him.]

Well, I'll be....this is....

[He chuckles softly and puts his hand to his mouth, completely astonished.]

This is....wonderful! If you need more, I can certainly give you some.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . . What?

[Lucas glances down at himself and notes, in mild surprise, the purple sparks flying off his body. In the same instant, he also seems to realize that he suddenly feels 100% better. He suddenly smiles.]

Dr. Crane? Mr. Captain? I'd like for the two of you to take my hand.