Campfire Road

Redrushroom

Dean wakes again and stings at the sweet sweat in his eyes.
He sits up in his bed to find some dry sheet to wipe off with, "Fuckin' sweats.
"This is the second night this week."

He checks his phone on the floor by his curved to the wall bed, "Three-fifty... Oh man, I was asleep a whole five minutes this time."

He drops the phone back to the rug and huffs to his shower, "I used to have a doctor that spent most his nights with me."

A cold shower ends the sweats and leaves him crankier.
He puts on gym shorts and strips his bed, to the washer in his bathroom.
He gets fresh linens and remakes his bed.

Dean gets a cup of ice water and sits on the edge of his bed.

After a long drink, he takes up his phone and texts Cherry.
'Is the party still going?'

He has another drink before her messages start coming in.

'No, been over awhile.'

'Was kind of fun, wish you could have been there.'

'I just got home.'

'Had to walk from Belle's. Hera gave me a lift cause she was dropping Jake off anyway.'

'Some big plans with Tyres. Why doesn't he just admit they've a thing going on?'

'I got to go. Miguel and Dad wanna hear about the party.'

'Oh, if you're looking for Jazy. He was going to Romone's. Hey is it Romane, Romon or Ramon?'

Dean texts back, 'Properly spelled Romon. Pronounced Row-mon and usually spelled Romone. T & GN.'

Dean sets his water down to work the phone to special call types.
He selects mute calling and the last number called in its short list of repeated number.

It rings once and she answers in text on the screen, 'Why are you bothering me?'

Dean speaks to the phone, "Heard my doctor was there?"

Her text appears as she types it in, 'He was, but he went for supplies.
Do you have an emergency?'

"No, just need to report another sleepless night of sweet sweats.
"Guess I'm advancing."

Her letters comes fast, 'Do not let him hear such whining.

'You have had no sun exposure, no calcium and no nicotine. You can not advance.'

Dean tries, "Enough about me, how are you?"

'My health is not your business.'

"Come on, Romon.
"I just want to know if you're stable again."

It's a moment before her words start appearing, 'I am stable again. I have fully adapted Brandy's digestive tract.
'I'm still without vocal cords, but all else is now repaired.'

Dean smiles, "That's good."

'I will pass on your report.'

The call ends and Dean fusses, "Stop hanging up on me all the time."

He puts the phone on the floor and drinks more water.

When it's gone but for ice, he lays back, "Why I got to care about that heartless monster anyway?"

He stares at the rock ceiling for a long time before he starts to dose.

A knock on his door surpises him, "I don't get knocking visitors?"

Dean goes to the door and works the screen in it, to view the landing. Three cloaked forms wait looking about nervously.

Dean selects the intercom, "Identify yourselves."