I'm not dying with you tonight

Egon Spengler

"What's your name kid?" She looked up when he spoke, her eyes leaving his careful hands as they finished wrapping her arm.

"Sage." He waited, his eyebrows raised. "Parker. Sage Parker." She finished, looking back at her arm. He nodded and leaned forward, cutting off the wrap and tying it. Her arm fell into her lap once he let go, and she pulled it close to her body.

"How old are you?" He gently slid his glasses up his nose and stood, grabbing the rest of the bandages.

"Why's it matter?" She snarked, looking up. He scoffed.

"Cause I need to know how old the child is that I picked up off my porch. What are you even doing all the way out here? Where are your parents?"

Sage sighed and looked away. She knew it was a stupid stupid stupid thing that she did and she regretted it the moment it started raining. She was being reckless. She looked up again when he cleared his voice, eyebrows raised and eyes wide.

"My birthday was in October."

"Which birthday?"

"12th."

"Fucking shit."

-

The phone rang for a long time. Sage really didn't think they would pick up, but finally, on the last ring, a rough voice asked:

"Hello?" The man shot her a look and she sighed, her hands folded in her lap and her leg bouncing.

"Hello, is this Mr.Parker?" He asked, his voice calm and quiet against the cold phone. Sage watched and waited.

"Yes. Who is this?" Mr. Parker said loudly. Sage shook slightly, hugging her torso. She hoped she could blame it on the cold.

"I- um- your daughter, Sage, is here. She got lost in the storm and I just wanted to let you know she was okay." The other side was quiet for a while and Sage picked at her bandage with anxiety. The man looked at her and then turned back to the phone. "It's still raining pretty hard. Would you like me to drive her home?" They both waited for an answer but there wasn't one. Mr. Parker had hung up the phone. Sage chuckled lightly and he looked at her in shock.

"I told you it was a waste of time. I'll walk. It's fine." She stood up, a tad too quickly, and her head spun, but she kept going. She had already slung her backpack over her shoulder and was headed to the door when he grabbed her arm.

"Stop. You're not walking home in the goddamn ice. I'll drive."

"Please don't." she pleaded, looking up to meet his eyes. "It'll just make them mad. I'm fine really. Thanks for everything."

"Alright fine, I won't drive you, but you're not walking in that. I have an extra bedroom. You can stay overnight and in the morning if it's not still pouring you can go home. Deal?" She nodded and he left to get it ready for her.

-

Alex: are you ok?

Sage: yeah. I'm sorry. It started raining. I'm ok. I'll explain when I get home tomorrow.

Alex: tomorrow?

Sage: yeah bud. It's bad outside. Are you ok?

Alex: yea. i went to eli's house.

Sage: mom and dad fighting again?

Alex: yea. they were loud.

Sage closed her eyes and sighed, mentality kicking herself for leaving her little brother alone with them.

Sage: I'm so sorry. I won't leave you with them again.

Alex: its ok. are you ok?

Sage: yeah. I'm staying at this old guys place. He... he seems familiar. I don't know, I'm probably going crazy. I'll be home tomorrow and then we can get some ice cream.

Alex: ok!

Sage: Ok :) get some sleep ok?

Alex: ok.

Sage: good night

Alex: good night

"Who are you texting?" Sage jumped, almost dropping her phone and he laughed.

"Jesus!" she sighed, steading herself on the wall. "I was just checking in on my brother. He's staying at a friend's house." She shoved her phone in her pocket.

"You have a brother?"

"Yeah. His name is alex."

"How old is he?"

"Seven."

Sage could see his mind working, wandering, and thinking. He seemed to remember the voice over the phone, rough and loud. He looked back to her when she yawned, shifting her wait to lean on the wall. He smiled.

"Here, follow me." He grabbed her bag and she followed him, slowly and stumbling a bit. He waited for her, slowing his pace taking smaller steps. When they finally made it all the way up the stairs she collapsed on the bed and he chuckled, placing her backpack on the floor and grabbing a blanket.

"Wait." she said, rolling on her side and looking up with tired eyes. "You never told me your name." He sighed and walked to the door as she pulled the blanket closer and hummed. "If you don't tell me I won't be able to sleep." She mused, raising an eyebrow. He chuckled and rolled his eyes.

"My name's Egon Spengler. Now go to bed."

She was asleep before he even turned the light out.

---

Words: 810

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