mitochondriaaya | It started out fine...

It started out fine...

She was fourteen when the area karate regionals came around. Never mind the fact that it was early December, and her mid-terms were coming up, and she was still trying to come to terms with her new breast size. Like an idiot she said she'd be there, layered on sports bras, and trotted to the gym.

The fights were simple exhibitions, points awarded on execution and touches rather than beating an opponent into the ground. In her third bout Aya was getting tired, and her opponent, a human from two towns over she'd met in the ring before, was as well. That was probably why things went wrong.

Three points in he flubbed a spin kick and his ankle buckled, making the attacking foot lash in an unexpected direction. She didn't get a block up in time and he tagged her hard on the ribs, taking them both to the floor. The referee blew his whistle, hard, halting all conversation as paramedics came forward to access injuries.

One cracked ankle on his side.

Two cracked ribs on hers.

They both managed to facepalm at the same time when it was announced they were unfit to continue. "Next year," they mouthed at each other around the pained wincing as they were bandaged.

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"Smell...yeah. Huh, I can smell it." Now that he mentioned it! "Think I need to spit. Lemme get to the sink?"

"I see." That did explain the sheer detail of things in the folder. "What's your hypothesis about her then? And do you agree she may have reached a turn around point in the pneumonia?"

"Okay." Braig said, standing to help keep her balanced. He was worried! Very worried.

"I'm not sure." Dilan said, shaking his head, "She's definitely human...but some of her reactions...I don't want to offer a theory until I have more to work on. I do think she'll be getting better, though."

Good, because she nearly brained herself when her feet didn't want to stay steady on the tile! Together they got to the sink, she hacked, spit, and brushed her teeth...then stumbled for the toilet. Yep, coughing until she retched time! Her body was not happy with her. Aggressively not happy.

"Then sit down, Dilan, and tell me speculation. I'm curious now. Physiologically she is human, yes, but the internal is matching up a little closer to katzu in my experience here. Not perfect, granted, but it's definitely odd." He eyed the file thoughtfully. "Wait, get her meal started, then sit with me when it starts to simmer."

Braig wrapped a towel around her shoulders so that she wouldn't catch a chill while she retched, and stroked her hair back. He was fluttering a bit, but doing his best to keep it down.

"Okay." Dilan said, heading into the kitchen...to find Elcy already working on a meal. "Lots of protein, mom." "I heard, dear."

He then went back out to the doctor and started explaining what he'd figured out, and what he thought.

She fell back to just coughing after a bit, then stood shakily to brush her teeth again before leaning on Braig. "How long do we have to stay in here?"

"Thank you Elcy," Dr. Somna called. "I'm going to pick your son's brains then check on Aya alright?" Only polite to inform her since they were in a home not at the hospital!

"I have no idea." Braig admitted, "Until the doctor calls us? Do you think you can handle it? If you want to go back to sleep you can, I'll keep holding you." I'll hold you forever...just get better!

"Of course!" Elcy called back, happy to have something to do. Yinsi, meanwhile, was taking the opportunity to change the sheets and blankets from the ones that Aya had sweated all over.

Dilan was more than happy to talk until he was out of things to say.

"I can handle it, just gonna get wrinkly." The heat did feel nice, admittedly, but the coughing sucked. At least they'd be clean? "Breathin' a little better." A little.

The doctor paid very close attention to Dilan as he spoke but...yeah, not enough information, despite the wealth of it, to draw a full conclusion. Damn. "She's interesting Dilan, if you have medical question later don't hesitate to ask. Shall we go listen to her chest now, see if things are continuing to break up?"

"Good." Braig said, "Lets get you back into the water, then." He took the towel off and helped her back into the tub.

"Yes, please." Dilan said, "I'd like that."

"Alright, yeah, tell me what I missed?" While she was too druggy or asleep! "Scared you guys huh?" She could kind of tell!

"Alright, can you use a stethoscope properly? Maybe he could steer Dilan towards medical doctor? It might be good for him!

"Yeah, baby, you did." Braig admitted, "Well, we had an IV in you for a bit to help rehydrate you. The doctor is here, he's going to check up on you...make sure everything is going well."

"Of course I can." Dilan said, giving the doctor a weird look, "I'm taking medical classes too." Nope. Biologist. His interest was too wide.

"Didn't mean to, sorry." She was! She didn't like the boys scared! "I'm getting better now, promise. Guess I just needed to be sick once?" she really, really hoped it was only once. This sucked.

"I'm not privy to your college courses," he pointed out mildly. "And most don't pursue medical classes so it's a valid question. You can listen first if you like."

"I know you didn't." he stroked her hair again, "We'll take care of you every time you get sick...we'll take care of you forever."

"Oh...right." Dilan listed his classes, "Thank you for letting me listen."

"Even when you're married and stuff states away?" she asked, half curious, half begging. Begging she could do when she felt like shit!

"You two take incredibly good care of her, and you'll fret if I don't let you listen, so." he passed his tool to Dilan and waved for the boy to precede him up the stairs.

"Always and forever and ever." Braig said, quietly, "Don't you worry about me getting married and ceasing to take care of you. I will always take care of you."

"Well, yeah." Dilan said, a little blankly, "She's my monkey." he headed up the stairs, "Hey! Time to listen to monkey lungs!"

"Cause I'm yours huh? You take care of your stuff." Her and Dilan she meant anyway! She could live with that! She was going to lean her head back on his shoulder now and kinda cough quietly okay?

...oh, Dilan. "You're my doctor? Cool."

"I'll listen next," Dr. Somna chuckled.

"Because I love you." Braig said quietly, "Because I love you very, very much."

"I get to listen first, but I'm not the doctor. More like a glorified EMT."

"Yeah, love you too." she did! "Nah, you're my doctor. And Dr. Somna is your doctor, and I don't think you'd fit in the ambulances properly." yeah, she was obviously feeling better.

Also? Her chest? Less congested! Not amazingly clear, but certainly less filled with crud!

Braig got her completely dry before he let the other two listen to her voice, rubbing at her hair until it was damp and insisting that they let her get into warm PJs.

Dilan looked relieved when he'd listened.

Dr. Somna patted Dilan's shoulder when he saw that look and bent to listen himself. "Much better. Still bed rest dear, and continue the medicine until your lungs are fully clear, but much, much better."

Aya just blinked, tried to breath properly for the listeners, then cuddled back against Braig since she was in warm PJs again. "I can do that? I seem to be doing that a lot recently?"

"We'll keep helping." Braig promised, petting Aya. Dilan settled down on her other side and wrapped an arm around both of them.

"Okay, good. Thank you Dr. Somna. I'm sorry if I scared you too."

"No, just a little surprised I promise." He smiled at the trio then ducked out to tell the adults about Aya's progress.

"Under the covers, Aya." Braig said, fussing at her again until she was tucked up.

"I'll go get your dinner...we'll all eat up here, how's that?"

"Yes, yes, yes, blankets, see?" She burrowed obediently and then made a nesty area for them all. "Can we watch a movie while we eat? I might not fall asleep before the end!"

"Sure, what do you want to watch?" Braig said, instantly, "If you want to wait twenty minutes or so I can go rent something if we don't own it?"

"Horror? Something we haven't seen! Haunty Houseish maybe?" She didn't know! Oh, wait, one restriction! "No zombies!" There were few exceptions to that! Like vid game based movies, but yeah.

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