Work Text:
Fred was carefully eyeing the magazine shelf for a suitable publication when he heard the bell clanging, indicating that the shop door was opening.
Fred looked around.
“Hello, Reggie,” he greeted when he saw who entered.
“Hello, Fred.”
“Ready to deliver papers?”
Reggie smiled and nodded. Then he looked quizzically at the basket filled with newspapers and the odd magazine standing next to Fred on the floor.
“What are you doing with those?” Reggie asked.
Fred followed Reggie’s gaze.
“Ah,” he began, “well, you know that Sister Julienne was taken ill yesterday?”
Reggie nodded.
“I’m going over to Nonnatus now, and I thought I’d bring something along for her to read.”
Reggie eyed Fred suspiciously. “Do you know how to take care of a sick person, Fred?”
“Well, uh, I’m not looking after her exactly. I’m just popping in for a visit. See how she’s doing,” Fred replied.
Reggie looked at the basket again. “When I was sick, Mum would let me eat ice cream. I think Sister Julienne would prefer ice cream over newspapers.”
“That’s a very nice idea, Reg. But she might not be awake when I get there. Then the ice cream would melt before she got a chance to eat it.”
Reggie thought for a moment. “What about biscuits?”
Fred couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah, that’s a nice idea Reg. Why don’t you pick out a packet and put it in the basket.”
——o——o——o——o——o——
The doorbell rang at Nonnatus House and Phyllis made her way to answer the door. She wasn’t entirely surprised to find Fred on the other side.
“Good afternoon, Mr Buckle,” Phyllis greeted. She glanced down at the basket in his hand. “I take it you’ve come to visit Sister Julienne?”
“That’s right, Nurse Crane,” Fred replied. “If she’s awake?”
Phyllis frowned. Even if Julienne happened to be awake, Phyllis wasn’t sure that having a visitor in was such a good idea.
When Fred had brought Julienne back the previous day, the Sister had been unable to stand upright. She’d spent the rest of the day in bed, resting. But during the night there had unfortunately been an incident.
Julienne had required the use of the lavatory. Instead of calling for assistance as she had been instructed to do, she decided to make her way to the bathroom by herself.
Phyllis had been awoken by noises coming from the hall. Getting up to inspect its source she found Julienne on her hands and knees on the floor.
Julienne had swayed a little and retched dryly once before the next one brought with it the contents of her stomach. Phyllis hurried to Julienne’s side, kneeling on the floor beside the sick woman, laying a hand on her upper back and rubbing it in soothing circles.
The effort appeared to have drained all of Julienne’s energy, as Phyllis noticed her arms give way. Phyllis managed to catch her just before her face made contact with what she’d just expelled.
“Whatever are you doing out of bed, Sister?” Phyllis asked, sounding more stern than she’d intended.
“Bathroom,” Julienne whimpered.
Phyllis considered bringing her directly back to her bed and employ a bedpan. But she could see that after what had just occurred, Julienne’s hands would need a wash before the Sister could go back to bed. She wondered briefly if other parts of her would be in need of it too.
She quickly decided that it would be best to bring Julienne to the bathroom. Carefully she helped Julienne lean her back against a wall while she stood, then helped Julienne into a standing position as well.
With one hand securely under Julienne’s arm and the other holding her hand, Phyllis gently led Julienne into the bathroom, who was shuffling slowly on shaky legs. She helped Julienne get seated on the toilet, pulling up the hem of her nightdress and holding Julienne steady as she pulled down her own underwear.
Once Julienne was seated, Phyllis held onto the Sister’s shoulders to prevent her from slumping over.
By this point Trixie had also woken up and came through the bathroom door. She took in the scene and looked at Phyllis. “What can I do?”
“If you would fetch her a change of clothes, a fresh nightgown. Just to be on the safe side,” Phyllis said looking down at Julienne, “Then we’ll take it from there.”
Once Julienne had emptied her bladder and gotten to rinse out her mouth with water, Phyllis and Trixie gently but efficiently helped her clean up and get changed. Julienne was awake but her eyes half-lidded, head lolling from side to side, and she needed assistance to stay upright.
Together they slowly made their way back to Julienne’s room, Julienne propped up by the other two on either side. They made their way around the mess on the floor and Phyllis made a mental note to clean it up when Julienne was settled.
Once Julienne was safely tucked back in bed Trixie offered to stay and keep an eye out, making sure someone was there should the Sister throw up again while lying on her back. A report from Trixie in the morning had informed Phyllis that while Julienne’s sleep had been somewhat restless, there had been no need to deploy a bucket.
“She’s had a rough night,” Phyllis said tactfully to Fred. “I’m not sure she'll be ready to receive visitors, even if she should be awake.”
“Oh,” Fred said, the disappointment evident on his face. “Alright then. It just gave me such a scare, the way she was falling over in the tunnel. I just wanted to look in, make sure she’s doing okay.”
“Sister Julienne is not in any danger,” Phyllis said in an attempt to reassure. “She will make a full recovery, she just needs rest.”
Fred nodded but looked no less unhappy, and made no attempt to leave. Phyllis sighed and suppressed an eyeroll.
“I’ll look in on her, see if she’s up for it. If not, you can try again tomorrow.”
Fred’s face immediately lit up.
“Yes, Nurse Crane. Thank you.”
——o——o——o——o——o——
Julienne lay in her bed staring at the ceiling.
The curtains were still drawn despite the clock on her bedside table telling her it was well into the afternoon. She felt it helped with the dizziness.
She had only vague recollections of the previous night. She remembered having to use the toilet and that she thought it unnecessary to involve anyone else. Though she didn’t remember the specifics of it, she knew it hadn’t gone quite according to plan.
Her failure to adhere to instructions had landed her with a commode pushed right up to the side of the bed as well as a bell, along with the strict orders that she had to use the latter before using the former. She was not particularly happy about this arrangement, but knew that she was in no position to argue.
She remembered waking up several more times during the night. But sometime during the morning she had managed to fall into a deep slumber, only waking up again a few hours after lunch.
Once awake she realised there wasn’t much she could do without dizziness and nausea overtaking her. She’d carefully sat up in bed at one point and attempted to read, but quickly found that reading made her head swim.
But just laying staring at the ceiling made her feel restless. And while still feeling rather tired, she hadn’t been able to fall back asleep.
There was a soft knock on her door, then Phyllis entered.
It had taken some convincing, but Julienne had gotten Phyllis to agree to let Fred sit with her for a few minutes.
“If you start feeling unwell you’re to send him away immediately,” Phyllis said as she gently eased Julienne forwards, pulling up her pillow against the headboard. “You need to rest, not entertain guests.”
“I thank you for your concern, Nurse Crane. But I really am feeling much better,” Julienne replied.
Phyllis helped the other woman scoot up the bed, eyeing her to assess how much she was exaggerating this improvement. Pulling up and tucking in the covers around her, Phyllis then went downstairs to fetch Fred.
“Hello, Sister. How are you feeling?” Fred said softly as he entered the bedroom and sat down on a chair next to the bed.
“Better, now,” Julienne said truthfully. “It’s good of you to come. I never got a chance to thank you for helping me yesterday.”
“You’re welcome, Sister, but there’s no need for that.” Fred paused awkwardly before holding up the basket. “Here, I brought you some things. Thought if you’re stuck in bed you might want something to read.”
Julienne smiled. She didn’t feel it necessary to mention that they had enough reading material at Nonnatus House to last a lifetime, nor that she wasn’t really able to read much at the moment anyway. The gesture was kindly meant, and that was all that mattered.
“Thank you, Fred.”
“Oh, and,” Fred began, picking up the packet of biscuits from the basket. “Reggie wanted to give you these.” He held up the packet and grinned. “Chose’em himself and everything.”
“That was very kind of him,” Julienne said. “He is a very thoughtful young man.”
“Yeah, he’s a good lad,” Fred said fondly.
“Please send him my regards, and my thanks.”
“Will do, Sister.”
Then Fred chuckled when he remembered. “Actually, Sister, he wanted to give you ice cream.”
Julienne’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, really?” She beamed. “Well, in my youth I was partial to choc ices.”
She didn’t let on that she had in fact enjoyed them on a few occasions in recent years as well.
“I’ll have him bring you one when you’re feeling better, Sister,” Fred said.
They chatted for a bit longer, but Julienne felt herself becoming increasingly dizzy and unable to concentrate. Eventually Fred noticed.
“You alright, Sister?” he asked, voice laced with concern. When he saw Julienne’s head start tilting slowly to one side he quickly stood and added, “Should I fetch Nurse Crane?”
“No it’s alright,” she said, quickly straightening her head again. Sitting up for only a short while had made her feel woozy. “I think… I might need to lie down for a moment,” she continued, making an attempt to push herself down the bed.
She must have been struggling, because suddenly Fred was by her side, helping her scoot down and put the pillow in the right position. She closed her eyes, hoping it would help against the dizziness.
Once she was laying down she felt the covers being pulled over her.
“Better?” she heard Fred’s voice ask.
“Mmh,” she sighed, eyes still closed. “Thank you.”
“Sure you’re alright?” Fred asked.
She looked up at him. “Yes, thank you. Much better. But I’m afraid I might just fall asleep,” she said, closing her eyes again.
“Yes of course, Sister. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have kept you up. I’ll be on my way.”
“Don’t apologise, I’m glad you came,” Julienne said sleepily.
“I’ll come back tomorrow, Sister,” Fred assured. “I’ll bring Reggie. And ice cream.”
With that lovely thought, Julienne fell into a restful sleep with a smile on her lips.