This Time Around (Sequel to All Over Again)

Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

Selig scowled as McKenna pressed her hand to his forehead. “Don’t, Mommy,” he muttered. “It hurts.”

“Eir?”

“His temperature is one hundred and two and that’s cause for concern, considering his heritage.” Eir caught McKenna by the elbow and guided her away from Selig's bed. “I’ve given him something to try to bring the temperature down, but he needs to rest.”

“What’s causing it, though?” McKenna peered over her shoulder at Selig, who looked even paler than normal, with purplish smudges shadowing the skin beneath his blue eyes. He looked as if he hadn’t slept in days and as Tyra sat beside him to read, he let out a little cry.

“Everything hurts,” he whimpered, scrunching around beneath the sheets.

“Shhh, my lord,” Tyra murmured, her voice low and soothing. “I’ll read you some of this Dr. Seuss and I promise you, listening doesn’t hurt.”

McKenna pressed her lips together and turned back to Eir. “Well?”

“I don’t know, my lady. It could be only a virus, but I can’t say for certain. But since he and Lady Aislinn were both feverish, I’d like to have her brought her as well, so I can keep an eye on both of them.”

“Okay. If you think there’s cause for concern, then do it.”

Eir offered up a serene smile and patted her arm. “They will both be fine, my lady. Children are terribly resilient.”

“I know. It just sucks when they’re sick and you’re powerless to do anything.”

“You aren't powerless. You will make him feel better just by being there.”

“I wish it was that simple, Eir.”

“It is. You’ll see.” Eir gestured back to Selig. “Go sit with him and see how quickly his whimpers stop.”

McKenna nodded and moved over to the chair Tyra had brought over to Selig's bedside and just as Eir said, Selig went still as McKenna smoothed his hair back from his forehead. Tyra kept reading and little by little, Selig drifted off.

Loki came into the infirmary carrying a plate of fruit and a cup of coffee. Passing the coffee to McKenna, he said, “So?”

“Eir thinks it’s just a virus. We’ll see.” McKenna sipped the coffee. No one fixed her coffee the way he did, with just the right balance of cream and sugar. “She gave him something to bring his fever down and she sent Kirsten to get Aislinn, just to keep an eye on her, too.”

“I bumped into Sif while I was getting this,” Loki held up the plate, which he then set on the table next to Tyra, “and she said you were going to be in the Northern Courtyard again, working on more defensive maneuvers.”

“She’s determined to make me a soldier yet, Loki. And she’s brutal.” McKenna grinned. “But when the time comes, Ward won’t know what hit him.”

“Perhaps not, but so far, son of—Coulson—is having a devil of a time finding him. I thought this team was his best.”

“It is, but remember, he has limited resources now. S.H.I.E.L.D. has gone underground since they are now considered outlaws.” She took another sip of coffee, then lowered the cup. “They’ll find him, Loki. Don’t you worry about that.”

“I do worry about that, love. I worry that you’re going to go to Midgard for some reason or other and he’s going to be there waiting for you.”