Keeping a Promise

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

Brenda came home from the Nexus, telling the girls to take Ace out and throw the ball for him for awhile and then wheeling wearily toward the elevator. The slight cough she'd wakened with that morning was worse, and her head was ringing slightly as though she had a fever, but she pushed away the symptoms as she rode down to the Cave. The formula that she hoped would restore Kat to her proper age was completed, and she'd finished the initial testing. Trials on adult mice had shown no effect, but trials on mice that had been regressed with the formula that Kat had been exposed to had returned to their proper appearance.

She'd done those tests seven days ago, and the mice continued healthy. So all that was left now was for human testing.

Brenda wheeled into the lab and scrubbed her hands, then removed the container of de-aging compound from the locked cupboard and set it in her lap while she also got the antidote. This done, she wheeled toward a containment room and locked herself inside.

One whiff of the compound had her blinking disorientedly at the change in perspective and a little sick to her stomach, but she steeled herself and injected the antidote straight into a vein.

Perspective changed again, and Brenda managed a smile before her eyes slipped shut and she toppled from the wheelchair.

Comments

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

Leslie had come up to the mansion with some charts regarding the children's health and the lists of innoculations each of them was missing in hand. Pointed to the Cave Leslie went down, then blinked when she saw the Containment Room in use.

Hurrying over she looked in, then gasped and quickly went to try and secure the room to get in and to Brenda.

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

Brenda stirred at the beeping, blinking slightly as she weakly drew her arms and legs closer to her body. Her head was throbbing and ringing, and she wondered vaguely who had turned on the cooling system.

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

"I was doing what you told me." She searched for her handkerchief.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"I think I told you to take it easy, not test antidotes on yourself," she said, almost sternly.

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

She coughed again, then groaned and shivered. "Didn't I already do this earlier?"

"Yes," said Alfred gently, offering Leslie one of the towel wrapped icepacks. "But I trust we might beat this one without an unexpected dunking in noxious chemicals."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

Leslie nodded and set the icepack to her forehead. "Now just take it easy."

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

"That's what you said about the last stuff." She lifted her head and took it, then pulled a face at the taste before settling back and pulling the blankets up to her chin, though she made sure to put the icepack back where Alfred had left it. "I'm hallucinating. My mind keeps insisting that this won't feel so bad once Jim gets here."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"You're not. And he should be home any moment," Leslie said gently.

Just then Kat stuck her head in. "The cop's home. Want me to chase him away?"

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

"The fever's going to bring out the dreams," she said quietly, closing her eyes for a moment and rubbing her forehead, then looking for the icepacks.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

He got one for her. "Maybe try some medicine?" he asked softly.

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

"Mmm," she said, half asleep. "That's what I was saying. A place here in the room for the scary nights." Then she sighed and closed one hand on the front of his shirt. "Comfortable...."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

He smiled and kissed her forehead. "We'll worry about it later. Sweet dreams, sweetheart."

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

She noticed where her heart mother looked, then realized that there was something warm laying on her foot.

Frowning, she pushed herself shakily upright to look for herself.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

Kat didn't stir, but Leslie pat her arm. "I think she only just took the antidote. Don't worry about her."

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

Brenda opened her eyes and looked at them, then glanced at Leslie's other hand to see if there was water there.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Here," she smiled, setting the water in Jim's hand so he could help her drink it.

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

Trapped in her fever, Brenda shoved at him, but she was too sick to push hard. Then she woke with a gasp and blinked disorientedly. "Brent...."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Easy, Brenda, it was just a nightmare. It's me, Jim," Jim said, holding on and stroking her hair. "It's alright."

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

"Kat." Brenda woke and frowned. "Did it work?"

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Yes. It worked," Jim said, then looked. "Kat, come here."

The young woman looked at him crossly, then walked over.

"I'm here, Brenda. It worked," she said, looking at her, eyes dull.

More Time Pass... around midnight

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

Brenda woke with a gasp, sweating and feeling as though she were roasting. "Jim." She coughed slightly and pushed at him gently. "Jim, let go."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

He quickly did so, wincing. "Sorry," he said softly.

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

"Only if Leslie says it's alright," she said firmly, not wanting to push the limits and wind up in bed for any longer than she had to.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"She said if your fever broke you may take a cool sit-down shower," he said.

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

"No." She sighed and pulled his arms more firmly around her. "This is good."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

He smiled and cradled her. "Alright then," he said, happy to oblige her.