ushernet Chapter 331: Ancient medicine
Chapter 331: Ancient medicine
Blake jolted awake, momentarily disoriented. He blinked rapidly, heart racing as he realized he had inadvertently dozed off. Rose still lay motionless on the bed, exactly as he'd left her.
"Damn it," he muttered, angry at himself for succumbing to sleep when Rose needed him most.
A faint noise caught his attention. He rose swiftly, padding down the hall to check on Celena. The little girl was still sound asleep, peaceful and unaware of the turmoil around her. Blake lingered at her doorway for a moment, ensuring all was well.
Then another sound reached his ears - this time from downstairs. Without hesitation, he rushed toward the source of the disturbance.
As he reached the bottom of the stairs, Blake saw a familiar figure at the front door, fumbling with a set of keys. It was Dr. Martina, struggling to find the right key among the bunch in her hand.
Blake quickly strode over and opened the door. Martina stepped inside, her eyes immediately locking onto Blake's face. The worry etched into his features told her everything she needed to know about the gravity of the situation.
"Take me to Rose," Martina said without preamble, dropping her bags save for a small medical suitcase.
Blake nodded, leading her up the stairs. "She hasn't stirred at all since I called you," he explained, his voice tight with concern. "I've done everything you said - kept her covered, made sure there was fresh air..."
They entered the bedroom where Rose lay still and pale against the sheets. Martina moved swiftly to Rose's side, her centuries of medical experience evident in her purposeful movements.
"Tell me exactly what happened before she collapsed," Martina instructed as she began her examination, opening her medical case.
Blake recounted the events leading up to Rose's sudden loss of consciousness, trying to recall every detail that might be relevant. As he spoke, Martina listened intently, her hands moving with practiced efficiency as she checked Rose's vital signs.
As Martina continued her intricate examination, she finally turned to Blake with a gentle but firm expression. "Blake, I need you to step out for a while. I require some space to work uninterrupted."
Blake hesitated, reluctant to leave Rose's side. But he knew better than to argue with the centuries-old doctor who held his wife's fate in her hands. With a resigned nod, he moved towards the door.
Martina drew the shades closed against the encroaching dawn. Unlike Blake, she didn't share his unique resistance to sunlight. As he slipped out of the room, Blake cast one last longing glance at Rose's still form before closing the door behind him.
Standing in the hallway, Blake felt a surge of restlessness. The feeling of helplessness threatened to overwhelm him. He couldn't just sit idly by, waiting for news. He needed to do something, anything to feel useful.
Then it hit him - Celena would be waking up soon. On a normal day, Rose would already be in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for their little family. The thought of their daughter coming downstairs to find her mother absent and her father a worried wreck spurred Blake into action.
He made his way to the kitchen, determined to create some semblance of normalcy for Celena's sake. As he began gathering ingredients for pancakes - Celena's favorite - Blake found a small measure of comfort in the familiar routine.
He mixed the batter, heated the griddle, and soon the kitchen was filled with the warm, comforting aroma of breakfast. It wasn't quite up to Rose's standards, but it would do. As he worked, Blake rehearsed in his mind how he would explain the situation to Celena without frightening her.
Just as he was plating the first stack of pancakes, Blake heard the telltale sound of little feet padding down the stairs. Taking a deep breath, he plastered on what he hoped was a reassuring smile, ready to face whatever questions his daughter might have about her mother's absence.
For now, all he could do was try to keep things as normal as possible for Celena, while anxiously awaiting news from Martina about Rose's condition. It wasn't much, but it was something he could do to help his family through this uncertain time.
Celena padded down the stairs, her hair a tangled mess and her face scrunched up as she tried to shake off the last vestiges of sleep. She yawned widely, rubbing her eyes as she made her way to the kitchen.
"Where's Mommy?" she asked, her voice still thick with sleep.
Blake mustered his most reassuring smile. "Mommy's still in our room, sweetheart. She's just... doing something important right now. She'll join us when she's done."