WALKING DISASTERS | Jack Thompson

47.

THEY TOOK PEGGY AND SERA TO DANIEL'S fiancée's house, and although Violet told them that Peggy and Sera needed to go to a hospital, they all protested against that. Sera was leaning heavily against Jarvis as he supported both Peggy and Sera into the house. Once inside, Sera collapsed on one of Violet's armchairs and let out a groan.

As she watched her friends care for Peggy, Sera felt tears well in her eyes. She felt like this was her fault. If she had only been quicker, Peggy wouldn't be in this situation. If she had managed to take out Whitney, Peggy wouldn't be bleeding out on Violet's sofa.

As they were tending to her, Jarvis crouched down beside Sera. "Miss Stark, are you in need of assistance?"

She shook her head. "I'm okay, Ed."

"Miss Stark, if you would just let me have a look," he said. "I know how to check for broken bones and we need to stitch up your leg."

Reluctantly, Sera nodded, and Jarvis started poking and prodding her body, checking for broken bones or otherwise critical injuries. It wasn't until he gently touched Sera's back that she let out a hiss of pain.

"Miss Stark, I feel rather uncomfortable asking, but do you mind rolling up your shirt?" Jarvis asked.

Sera nodded and struggled to raise her shirt higher than just below her ribs. "You're gonna have to..."

Jarvis pushed her shirt up carefully, and he wasn't quick enough to stifle the surprised intake of breath when he saw Sera's back. The back of her ribs were spotted with purple and blue bruises, which looked to be rather sensitive, and Jarvis gently applied pressure to check for breaks or fractures.

"Well, I think it's suffice to say that you're very fortunate, Miss Stark," Jarvis replied. "I detect no breaks or fractures, but you might want to avoid sleeping on your back for a while. You have severe bruising."

Sera nodded. "Yes, sir."

After stitching up Peggy, Violet turned to Sera and helped her with her own injury. When she looked at her leg, covered in blood, she was reminded of the pain she felt when she had to lift her leg off of the concrete and her own scream echoed in her head.

Violet stitched her up and warned her not to over-exert herself lest she tear the stitches, and Sera nodded. "This isn't my first rodeo with stitches."

"Well, hopefully it's your last," Violet replied.

They went back to Howard's house after Peggy woke up from a pain-induced nap, and although Violet informed them that it was probably better for them to stay with her for a few days, they didn't want to be a bother and went home.

Once they returned to Howard's mansion, Sera limped slowly into the house and headed for one of the bigger bathrooms. "If anybody needs me, I'll be running a cold bath."

"Would you like any assistance?" Jarvis asked. "I can draw the bath for you."

"No, no thank you, Jarvis," she replied. "You look after Peg."

When she was alone in the bathroom, Sera set the water running slowly, filling the bath with cold water before she headed out into the hallway and dialled the telephone. She leaned against the dresser as she waited for the line to activate, and when it did, she smiled at the sound of the voice that greeted her.

"Thompson."

"Jack?" Sera whispered.

"Sera?" he replied. "What are you doing? You do realise it's two in the morning where I am, right?"

Sera bit her lip. "Yes, I do... I just... I needed to hear your voice."

"Sera, what's wrong?" Jack asked. "Are you okay?"