Doe (#Wattys2016)

Chapter Forty-Six

"I thought you were dead," she gasped. Just as Doe sat up and began to cry.

"Get up," he told her, as he bent and picked Doe up.

"Draco," she pleaded.

Doe was awkward in his arms, her legs too long.

"Get up, now."

Francis found herself helplessly following them, gripping the back of his jacket. He was struggling to climb the grassy banks and stumbled.

"Let me down, I can walk," Doe told him.

For a moment he refused and then set her down gently on her feet.

"Help me," she told her older sister.

Francis gripped her around her waist, but she was so much taller that Doe had to lean mainly on Draco to walk up the final bank. He lead them into the house. Everyone was being gathered in the ballroom, a separate smaller group were being made to sit on the floor. They called out to Draco as they passed, Francis felt hot shame penetrate her and douse her like boiling water and she would have faltered if it hadn't been for Draco's and Doe's driving force. The officers looked at them but seeing it was Draco let them past.

Once they were in the cool empty corridor, they paused. Doe leant against the wall, then stumbled away from them to vomit into a vase. Francis watched her anxiously. Draco picked Doe up again and carried her all the way to the nursery. She didn't protest this time, but had gone pale and shaky. They went to Kitty's room and he laid Doe gently on the bed.

"Thank you," she sighed, half her face was already swollen and purple. Francis stroked her hand.

"Stay here. I'm going to find someone to look at you," and he left.

Doe sighed uncomfortably. Francis propped her gently up on all of the pillows and tucked her in, though she was still in her party dress.

"Are you okay, Francis?" Doe asked her.

Francis nodded, avoiding Doe's gaze. Hers hands shook as she folded the bedclothes neatly around her sister.

"Shit," Doe scrambled out the bed and made it to the bathroom, where she vomited into the toilet. Francis looked over her unsure of what to do. Doe vomited again and then finally with Francis' help went back to the bed.

"Is it the pain?" she asked Doe, her voice steady.

"I think it's the shock. I dunno, my face really hurts though." Doe moaned.

"Did he get you with the gun?" Francis asked.

"Yes I think it was with the butt of the gun, that hit my head."

"It's going to be alright."

"I know. I am. Sit down, Francis."

The door opened and a man in a Home Security uniform walked in behind Draco. Francis looked at him in surprise and fear.

"He's a doctor," Draco said quietly.

The doctor gently looked over Doe, asking her questions. He was older than 0ne would expect in a Security officer, his dark hair was flecked with grey, and he had deep laugh lines around his eyes and mouth. Francis felt herself go calmer.

"Well, she's seriously bruised but nothing seems to be broken or fractured, as I can tell. Though she has lost a couple of teeth," the doctor told them, "Keep an eye on her. If she doesn't stop vomiting in the next half an hour call someone immediately."