Chapter Text
Loretta had just finished a movie she heard a light rapping on the door.
Ever since she had moved in with Oliver, she has insisted that he gets rid of his "no locked doors" policy.
The fact that he had tried to argue when there had been multiple murders in the building was insane, but all she had to do was bat her eyelashes at him and he agreed.
Having a husband who was obsessed with her has it's perks.
Oliver was out with Charles and Mabel getting lunch. It was good that they had these things, the little rituals that kept a friendship strong.
She was happy to let them have their time without her - she had plenty of time with them all together and, frankly, sometimes it was nice to have the apartment to herself.
So, the fact that somebody was interrupting her downtime was a little irritating.
Loretta was surprised when, upon unlocking the door, she was met with one third of the trio.
"Mabel?" she asked in surprise. "I thought you were out with the boys?"
Mabel, who had been leaning against the doorframe, smiled thinly as she righted herself.
"Sorry to um... disturb, but I think I left my knitting stuff here yesterday?"
Loretta frowned, but opened the door fully so the girl could come inside. She didn't miss the way her face looked as pale as chalk.
Shutting the door behind her quietly, she turned around and watched as Mabel fished around by the coats and shoes, in search of the bag.
"Honey?" she asked softly. "Is everything okay?"
"Sorry," Mabel said again. "I wasn't really feeling up to going to lunch, I texted the olds - I mean, uh, the guys - and cancelled."
"Right. What's up? Are you alright?"
"All good," Mabel muttered, before bending down to pick up the knitting bag, which had been revealed when she moved a pair of Oliver's cowboy boots.
When she stood upright, however, she began to sway dangerously, and Loretta hurried over to take a firm hold of the girl's arm.
"Mabel? Honey?"
Mabel moaned softly. "Sorry, I... I've been a little dizzy this morning. Maybe I've just not eaten enough."
Loretta took a second to put her hand on Mabel's forehead, and wasn't surprised when she felt a burning fever. She sighed softly.
"Okay, let's get you sat down, alright? I'll get you some water."
"No," Mabel protested. "I can just go home. I don't want to be a bother."
She moved to leave, but again began to sway left and right, and Loretta was sure she'd drop to the floor if she hadn't kept her grip on her young friends's forearm.
"No. Honey, you need to sit down. It's not a bother, okay?"
.
.
.
Once she had got Mabel sat on the sofa, she hurried into the kitchen to get the glass of water she had promised. While there, she pulled out her phone to ring Oliver.
He picked up after just one ring. "Loretta, my darling! This is a surprise! I thought you were marathoning your Doris Day collection?"
"I was. But Mabel showed up here and she looks awful. She's nearly keeled over twice in front of me."
"What? It's not poison, is it?" Oliver's voice sounded incredibly nervous, and she could hear sounds of him scrambling, like he had just got up.
"I don't know, but I think she needs to go and get checked out. She's really pale and she has a fever."
"I'm coming back right now. Charles? Charles! Stop looking at the appetisers, we need to go. Yes! We need to go!"
Loretta hung up after a few more seconds of hearing a one-sided argument. She quickly went back into the living room, where she saw Mabel staring into space.
The girl jumped when Loretta handed her the water, then grimaced.
"Thanks," she whispered.
"How long have you felt ill?" Loretta asked, frowning.
"I guess... since this morning? I was kind of in pain a lot of the night and then today I've just been a little out of it, I guess."
"You've got a fever, honey," Loretta said softly. "I think we need to get you checked out."
If Mabel was pale before, she got even paler then. "I... I'd rather not. I just... I hate hospitals and I'd just rather go home."
"You can't go home until I know you're not going to pass out when you stand up. Honey, you're not well."
Mabel sighed, sipping the water. "I don't want to impose."
"You could never. Okay? Never. I promise."
Mabel smiled again, and Loretta was pleased to see some life behind her eyes, at least.
.
.
.
It was only five minutes before Loretta heard the cacophony of noise that was Oliver running into the apartment.
She and Mabel both jumped in surprise, since they had been enjoying the comfortable silence.
Oliver ran into the living room, out of breath.
"Mabel!" he shouted. "Darling, you look terrible!"
Mabel pouted. "Well fuck you, too, Putnam!"
"No, no, I mean, you look really ill, sweetheart, what's wrong?"
Loretta stood up, moving over to Oliver and kissing him. Her husband tore his eyes away from Mabel to kiss her back.
"Loretta. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, love. Where's Charles?"
"He had a meeting with an agent, if you can believe that. He wanted to cancel but I insisted that any work is good work. I mean, the man is clearly not long for this world and I think that he could do with a few more solid acting jobs before-"
"So he's not here, then?" Loretta interrupted.
Oliver shook his head. "No. No, he's not."
He squeezed Loretta's arm before moving to sit next to Mabel. He did the same thing Loretta had done, checking her temperature with his hand, and he tutted softly as Mabel groaned at the discomfort.
"Oh, Mabel, you look-"
"Terrible. You said. I'll just go now, honestly."
"No. You're staying right here. What hurts, honey?"
Mabel licked her lips nervously before replying. "My whole body aches, but especially my side. And I've just felt wrong all day, I... I just feel ill."
Loretta frowned as Oliver continued speaking quietly to his daughter. It concerned her just how off Mabel seemed, especially now Oliver was there. She was somehow simultaneously keeping her emotions hidden whilst acting more emotional than she usually saw her.
Oliver made his usual grunt of anxiety. "Mabel, we need to get you to a hospital. You've got a crazy fever and you don't look right, sweetheart."
Mabel groaned, before nodding. "Okay. Okay, I'll go."
"Thank you."
As Mabel moved to stand, Loretta watched as the colour drained from her face. She let out a moan of pain before clutching her stomach in agony.
"Mabel?" Loretta asked in shock, hurrying over. She grabbed her right side as Oliver took her left.
"Fuck," Mabel whispered. "Fuck. Something's not right, I..."
She trailed off, and Loretta tightened her grip on her as she started to fall. Oliver let out a shout in panic as Mabel's eyes rolled back and she became a dead weight. The couple had to turn and deposit her quickly back on the sofa so that she didn't hit the floor.
"Mabel!" Oliver shouted. "Shit. Fuck. She's passed out. What do we do?! Fuck!"
Loretta's brain was whirring. "Oliver, stay with her. I'll phone for an ambulance."
"An ambulance?!"
"She said her side was hurting. She's got a crazy fever and she's disoriented, we need to take her in now."
Oliver put his arm around Mabel, talking to her softly as Loretta hurried through into the hallway. With sweaty, shaking hands she panic dialled 911 and waited for an operator.