Erskine had to admit, he rather enjoyed living in a world of magic and wonder. Serpine, Vengeous, Mevolent, and Faceless Ones aside, it was enjoyable and it was convenient. There wasn't much more you could ask for. And there was nothing quite like walking outside after a successful morning to find the sun brightly shining, and a breeze in the air, to put an extra spring in your step.
He laughed as John scurried away. "I guess I'm waiting here, then. China, thank you for all your help. If you wouldn't mind coming back with us for a bit, I'm sure Crossword Puzzler Extraordinaire Deuce would be happy to pay you for your services."
It was a mark of just how much China had changed in the past few days that Erskine actually caught her look of surprise before she smiled. "That," she said, "would be wonderful."
~~
Hospital appointments for terminally sick children turned out to be nearly impossible to get. There was something wrong with that. In the end, it was only with the help of Allie's nurse that Barney managed to make the appointment and get the tests at all, and the earliest time available was a good couple of days after the carnival.
Barney didn't try to argue the point. He was so sick of hospitals by now that he almost didn't care when the appointment was, as long as it happened. It was difficult to remember how healthy Allie looked that entire afternoon when she woke up the next morning barely able to so much as smile at Barney, let alone sit up.
He wasn't going to hope for anything, Barney told himself sternly when she was finally wheeled away several hours earlier. Chances were, the doctors would come back with the exact same results they had countless times before - it was an inoperable condition, and the most they could do was keep Allie comfortable until the end.
That was how any doctor Barney spoke to phrased it. 'Until the end.'
Still, he wasn't going to have much use for money after 'the end.' If all he had to spend it on was one last test, one last glimmering hope, he'd take it. He had just about enough saved up to cover that.
He wouldn't have enough for any potential operation after that, but - no. No, he wasn't going to allow himself that hope. They could cross that bridge - if it even was a bridge - when they got to it.
Another day he was taking off work, but Barney didn't really care this time. He still felt trapped in a daze. His mind refused to go over anything that had happened at the carnival, and without anything else to think about, he was currently sitting on an uncomfortable sofa in the hallway just outside the children's ward, staring blankly at an equally blank wall across from him.
no subject
Erskine had to admit, he rather enjoyed living in a world of magic and wonder. Serpine, Vengeous, Mevolent, and Faceless Ones aside, it was enjoyable and it was convenient. There wasn't much more you could ask for. And there was nothing quite like walking outside after a successful morning to find the sun brightly shining, and a breeze in the air, to put an extra spring in your step.
He laughed as John scurried away. "I guess I'm waiting here, then. China, thank you for all your help. If you wouldn't mind coming back with us for a bit, I'm sure Crossword Puzzler Extraordinaire Deuce would be happy to pay you for your services."
It was a mark of just how much China had changed in the past few days that Erskine actually caught her look of surprise before she smiled. "That," she said, "would be wonderful."
~~
Hospital appointments for terminally sick children turned out to be nearly impossible to get. There was something wrong with that. In the end, it was only with the help of Allie's nurse that Barney managed to make the appointment and get the tests at all, and the earliest time available was a good couple of days after the carnival.
Barney didn't try to argue the point. He was so sick of hospitals by now that he almost didn't care when the appointment was, as long as it happened. It was difficult to remember how healthy Allie looked that entire afternoon when she woke up the next morning barely able to so much as smile at Barney, let alone sit up.
He wasn't going to hope for anything, Barney told himself sternly when she was finally wheeled away several hours earlier. Chances were, the doctors would come back with the exact same results they had countless times before - it was an inoperable condition, and the most they could do was keep Allie comfortable until the end.
That was how any doctor Barney spoke to phrased it. 'Until the end.'
Still, he wasn't going to have much use for money after 'the end.' If all he had to spend it on was one last test, one last glimmering hope, he'd take it. He had just about enough saved up to cover that.
He wouldn't have enough for any potential operation after that, but - no. No, he wasn't going to allow himself that hope. They could cross that bridge - if it even was a bridge - when they got to it.
Another day he was taking off work, but Barney didn't really care this time. He still felt trapped in a daze. His mind refused to go over anything that had happened at the carnival, and without anything else to think about, he was currently sitting on an uncomfortable sofa in the hallway just outside the children's ward, staring blankly at an equally blank wall across from him.