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“Hmm.” Darling frowned at the thermometer. “That’s quite concerning. Almost as if…”
Trench’s heart had already been racing. It sped up more, crashing in his chest. He swallowed hard. “Dr. Darling. Report.”
“One moment.” Darling continued studying the thermometer, then pressed his hand to Trench’s brow. “Skin quite hot and still not cooling. I think we can safely say you’re overheating.”
There was nothing safe about it. Trench’s hands started to shake, and he clenched them into fists as he lay on the cot.
Outside, the investigation into the AWE continued, the voices of Bureau personnel echoing across the flat, sunbaked landscape. Trench was the Director. He should be out there with them. He should be keeping them safe from the possible threats, the sudden and very unlikely sinkholes which had opened after a possible paranatural incident along the highway.
He should be protecting his people. Not endangering them.
“Darling,” he said as calmly as he could. He must remain calm. That was his duty as Director too. “You need to back away from me. That is an order.”
Darling immediately lifted his hand off Trench’s brow, rose, and retreated to the other side of the tent. He had brought Trench here several minutes ago. Told him it was necessary to get out of the sun, to cool down. “Okay. However, you are in need of care, so—”
“No.” The word came out choked. Trench cleared his throat. “What I’m in need of are answers.”
“Of course. And as your Head of Research, I’m delighted to give them whenever possible.” Darling beamed. He seemed proud of the position, as he should be. Even if Trench wasn’t a worthy Director to serve under. “However, right now the answer is adequate water, and the management of cooling in general, and—”
“Yes. I know. I will do my duty.” Tears stung Trench’s eyes. He fought against them. “You say I’m overheating.”
“Yes? I truly did not think that was in question, given how much you’re sweating, the rising temperature of your skin, your clear dehydration, and other symptoms.”
“Agreed. It’s clear. What I don’t understand is…” Trench cleared his throat again, clenching his fists tighter. He held himself rigid, contained. Stared up at the fabric of the tent stretched above him. “I-I don’t understand how this happened. Is it because I’m just weak? I’m only bound to two Objects of Power. The Service Weapon. The Hotline. And I’ve only been Director for a year. Northmoor was bound to many more and lasted much longer before he began to exhibit symptoms.”
“Oh, god,” Darling said in a voice so full of horror that Trench flinched. Had it started in earnest? Was he igniting the cot underneath him, or smoking in a way unrelated to his habitual use of cigarettes? “Oh my god, Zach, that is not what I mean at all. I’m so sorry, I should have been clearer. I absolutely, unequivocally do not mean that you’re overheating in the same way that Northmoor was. It’s okay. You’re going to be okay.”
The tears blurred Trench’s vision of the tent. He still couldn’t risk moving. “I am?”
“Yes, one hundred percent. Well. That is, once we lower your temperature.” Darling’s footsteps crunched across the dry earth, and his face came into view. Blurry through the tears, but smiling kindly. “You’re running a fever. A rather nasty fever, which did not come down once we got you out of the sun and heat. Overheating? Yes. But in a wholly natural way, the consequence of human bodies not enduring high temperatures well.”
“Oh.” A tear slipped loose, trickling down Trench’s cheek. “I-I was frightened.”
“Understandable, given where Northmoor is as a direct result of decidedly unnatural ways of overheating.”
“No. I mean…” A sob slipped out, low and sad. “I was frightened I might hurt you. I can’t hurt anyone else I love.”
The dizziness worsened, Trench’s head spinning wildly. His breaths, already uneven, began to race. For a moment, he thought he might pass out from the sheer dread.
“Shh, shhh. It’s okay.” Darling sat beside the cot and rested a hand on the center of Trench’s chest. On his shirt, soaked through with perspiration. “Try to keep breathing, Zach. I believe the heightened temperature is worsening your quite understandable agitation. I’m going to attempt to lower your temperature now.”
Trench managed a nod. He didn’t trust himself to speak. If he did, he would start crying in earnest, and he did not trust himself to be able to stop.
Darling immediately laid a damp cloth on his brow, then placed ice packs around him. It was cold. Uncomfortably so. But Trench didn’t protest.
Earlier in the day, Darling had insisted that he remove his jacket and vest. Now, he took off the tie, unbuttoned Trench’s shirt, and sponged his chest with the same affection that he used when caressing Trench’s bare skin in bed. He chattered as he did, talking about standard procedures for heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
That was nice. It calmed Trench down. He liked talking about procedures, and also liked listening to Darling talk about procedures. If they were familiar procedures—such as first aid—then it was even better.
Gradually, the sense of panic eased. Trench’s mind cleared, although his exhaustion did not. He smiled, relaxing somewhat.
“I suppose I shouldn’t have been worried,” Trench said when Darling paused for breath. “In a way, this is the opposite of Northmoor.”
Darling blinked at him, then picked up a cup of water. He helped Trench drink. “As much as I have no desire to compare you to Northmoor, I’m uncertain how a fever is the opposite.”
“That’s not what I mean.” Trench chuckled, just a little. “Overheating drained my energy. I’m certainly not generating enough energy to power the Oldest House, unlike Northmoor.”
For a moment, Darling just gave him a startled look. Then he laughed, bent, and brushed his lips to Trench’s. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“I am. At least a little.” Trench still largely lacked the energy to move, but he managed to pat Darling’s knee. “I’m sorry for panicking. I was just afraid I might explode. Or catch on fire. Or superheat the tent. Or otherwise hurt you.”
“Well, thankfully, normal fevers don’t cause that!” Darling beamed at him. “However, it truly was quite a reasonable concern. You know, given that Northmoor managed to do all of the above towards the end. However, speaking as your Head of Research, I can confidently say that you show no signs of similar danger. You are quite stable.”
Trench snorted. He did not agree with that. He hadn’t been stable in a long time, not really.
But he was more stable than Northmoor. And when the fear overtook him, the possibilities of the ever-expanding universe too much to handle on his own, he had Darling and the rest of his management team to step in to help.