[He feels too sick for this. For all of this. His chest hurts from coughing and he can't feel his fingers and all he can really think about is how strange Stein is acting. It's altogether unpleasant and he really would rather not.
So he does what any well-adjusted teenager would do. He doesn't!]
If I leave now, I can probably meet with you in a few days. Three, maybe four. It will depend on the weather. If it becomes more hospitable I may be able to travel farther in a day.
Don't risk it. Stay where you are until you have to leave, and then just leave for a night and go back. Right now, I need you to focus on staying safe and warm. One of us has to.
So you are in a position to be hurt or worse, killed, again? [Stein will eventually go back. He'll see Watson's call, he'll see Kid's panic. He might see Kid's reaction to the Admin post, his conversation with Beckett. He could talk with Zell, Jim or Kunsel--find out that he'd been literally dragged into the building and proceeded to be up the entire night, a nervous wreck.
But he won't see that now. All he gets is an obstinate, crabby and sick sounding teenager who seems hell bent on not cooperating.]
No. If I start heading your way, we meet up sooner.
Everyone here is always in a position to be hurt, Kid. I need you to find somewhere safe and stay there. The houses where Clayton set up his clinic are close to the school. They're safe, and have hot water.
I think they're in the opposite direction from my location, but it's more important for you to stay safe than for us to meet up quickly. [Wait. Did he mean to say that?]
[It is as important for Kid to meet up with Stein quickly as it is for Stein to have Kid stay safe. Unfortunately, Kid is doing a very poor job of articulating this.]
...I am capable of traveling safely while also making my way closer to you.
Stay where you are, Kid. That's an order. [Stein doesn't generally give orders. He'll threaten, suggest, guide, or even just tell his students what to do, but an actual military order is rare from the professor. That isn't to say it's not something that Stein can do. He does, after all, outrank Kid in every aspect save species.]
[Now there isn't a hint of the defiant teen, who was trying to suggest that he didn't know how Stein could get to him. Kid is just desperate to not be told to just sit and wait, to hope that Stein is able to travel without getting injured or worse. Stein's instruction to stay put scares him. He doesn't want to be alone, not anymore.]
Dammit. Fine. Don't go too far, head south from the school until you reach the first houses, and then head directly east. Keep moving, but move slowly. I just died for you, I don't want you dying now.
[His speech is that same just-slightly-too-fast speed that it's been for weeks, but there's something in the tone that's less guarded than even his manic ramblings have been. He's frustrated, and worried, and not joking about wanting to keep Kid alive.
(He also doesn't generally curse in front of his students.)]
[Well, that does settle Kid's relatively quiet concern that Stein had allowed himself to be killed for his sake. At least it's now abundantly clear that it's his fault!
The revelation does not do much for his already-poor morale. He's grateful for the feed being only voice.]
You asked if I was traveling alone. [Kid coughs, and it's the same cough that he'd had when Stein died, if not worse. It's probably right for Stein to be worried, but Kid should get at least some extra points for effort.]
I met up with Zell, Jim, Kunsel and Zach right after. We split up. [He runs his fingers through his hair nervously and chews on his lip.] The...coughing and fever is no better, and has made it difficult to eat and to sleep. But I have minded your instructions the best that I can.
[That doesn't mean he wouldn't still describe his physical status as "fair" at best, but...he's trying.]
All right. Try and get as much variety as possible. I'll look for food as I travel and I'll make a plan for you if this happens again. Have you been sleeping regularly?
[He knows Kid has been trying, but he also knows it probably hasn't been enough.]
Humans at your developmental level need eight hours of sleep a night. [There's just the slightest emphasis on the number, enough to draw attention to it. Kid needs eight right now.]
Eight hours is ideal, of course, but if one cannot achieve eight hours of total rest then the exercise is pointless as one is left with seven hours and--
[Kid stops, hesitating. Obviously not the point. Also, he happens to have information to share with the older physician.]
...more importantly, your information is not entirely correct. Humans require slightly more sleep than this. I looked it up when Liz and Patti started living at Gallows and Patti insisted upon staying up all night. The most appropriate amount of sleep is anywhere from seven to eleven hours. [And you can hear him cringe saying it. Bet your smoking butt he looked it up, too. Probably had a literature review for Patti and everything.]
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equal_shots) wrote2016-05-06 12:48 am
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So he does what any well-adjusted teenager would do. He doesn't!]
If I leave now, I can probably meet with you in a few days. Three, maybe four. It will depend on the weather. If it becomes more hospitable I may be able to travel farther in a day.
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But he won't see that now. All he gets is an obstinate, crabby and sick sounding teenager who seems hell bent on not cooperating.]
No. If I start heading your way, we meet up sooner.
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I think they're in the opposite direction from my location, but it's more important for you to stay safe than for us to meet up quickly. [Wait. Did he mean to say that?]
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...I am capable of traveling safely while also making my way closer to you.
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Professor Stein, please--
[Now there isn't a hint of the defiant teen, who was trying to suggest that he didn't know how Stein could get to him. Kid is just desperate to not be told to just sit and wait, to hope that Stein is able to travel without getting injured or worse. Stein's instruction to stay put scares him. He doesn't want to be alone, not anymore.]
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[His speech is that same just-slightly-too-fast speed that it's been for weeks, but there's something in the tone that's less guarded than even his manic ramblings have been. He's frustrated, and worried, and not joking about wanting to keep Kid alive.
(He also doesn't generally curse in front of his students.)]
Is anyone with you?
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The revelation does not do much for his already-poor morale. He's grateful for the feed being only voice.]
...no. I have been traveling alone.
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I met up with Zell, Jim, Kunsel and Zach right after. We split up. [He runs his fingers through his hair nervously and chews on his lip.] The...coughing and fever is no better, and has made it difficult to eat and to sleep. But I have minded your instructions the best that I can.
[That doesn't mean he wouldn't still describe his physical status as "fair" at best, but...he's trying.]
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[He is trying so hard, Stein.]
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[He knows Kid has been trying, but he also knows it probably hasn't been enough.]
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...not as much as you would prefer.
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I am sleeping enough to ensure I remain alive. It simply is not a lot. [And he did choose to leave out "sane".]
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[Kid stops, hesitating. Obviously not the point. Also, he happens to have information to share with the older physician.]
...more importantly, your information is not entirely correct. Humans require slightly more sleep than this. I looked it up when Liz and Patti started living at Gallows and Patti insisted upon staying up all night. The most appropriate amount of sleep is anywhere from seven to eleven hours. [And you can hear him cringe saying it. Bet your smoking butt he looked it up, too. Probably had a literature review for Patti and everything.]
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