The Dark Hour

--------Lalna--------

I went to Ridge's room and peeked in. Ridge was tangled up in the blankets and his face was pressed into the pillow. I walked in and walked over to the bed. His face was sweaty and his skin felt hot. I gently shook his shoulder and he groaned.

"Ridge, you need to get up." He stretched a bit then sat up.

"What is it?" He asked tiredly.

"It's dinner time," I said softly. "Come on." I took his hand and he groaned as he stood up. He followed me to the dining room and I got him to sit down. I sat down besides him and sighed.

"I made you some soup Ridge." Axel said placing a bowl on the table. Ridge smiled a bit then sniffled.

"Thanks Axel," He said softly.

"You're welcome Ridge." Ridge slowly started eating and I got a glass of water.

"Here's your plate Lalna." I smiled.

"Thank you."

"I didn't know what you wanted so I put a little bit of everything."

"That's fine. I'm not picky."

"Okay." We started eating and I sighed.

"So how has training been going?" I asked Axel.

"Oh it's going pretty good, accidently tazed my partner in the balls."

"Ow, how did you manage that?"

"I got sidetracked and I pulled the trigger."

"Is your partner ok?" He nodded.

"Yeah after an hour then he felt better after punching me." I giggled a bit. "Yeah yeah laugh it up."

"Sorry."

"It's fine I deserved it."

"So did anything else happen?"

"Not really training is kinda hard."

"Ok."

"How has school been?"

"Fine, our math teacher got sick so we have a substitute and he is really bad at math."

"That's not good, but you did understand the lesson right."

"Yeah, he just writes the homework on the board and I learn how to do it from the book." Axel nodded.

"That's good."

"Yeah, I had to also teach some of the other kids how to do it."

"Well you're smart enough to be a teacher in that class."

"I guess."

"Lalna you get straight A's I'm pretty sure you're smart enough." I smiled a bit then the phone started ringing.

"I got it." Axel said getting up. I finished my food and sighed.

"Who's calling?" I asked.

"It's your mom."

"What does she need?" I asked getting up.

"She wants to talk to you."

"Ok." I took the phone and sighed. "Hello?"

"Hey honey, I'm just checking up on you. There was a code blue at the hospital so I might be here all night."

"Ok," I said softly.

"Are you doing ok? Do you need anything from the house?"

"I don't think so, and I'm fine."

"Ok just making sure. Love you."

"Love you too Mom."

"Ok, I'll talk to you as soon as I can. Bye."

"Bye." She hung up and I handed the phone back to Axel.

"Is everything okay?"

"There was a code blue at the hospital so she might be there all night."

"Do you want to say here for the night." I nodded. "Okay let's go finish dinner."

"I already finished."

"Okay, Ridge are you done eating?"

"Mhhm," He hummed.

"Okay, Lalna you want to get Ridge back in bed?" I nodded.

"Yeah, I can do that. Come on Ridge." I gently took Ridge's hand and lead him back to his room. He laid down and I sighed.

"Are you going to be ok?" I asked softly. He nodded and sniffled.

"Yeah, I'm just tired right now."

"Ok, just some sleep." He nodded and I quietly left the room.

"Hey Astrid Lalna you guys might have to walk home, will you guys be okay with that?"

"I'm fine with it." Astrid said putting dishes in the dishwasher.

"Yeah, it's fine."

"I'll make sure that nothing happens."

"Okay, I just wanted to make sure that it was okay."

"I'm going to get ready for bed," I said softly.

"Night Lalna." I nodded then went and laid down on the couch. I closed my eyes and slowly fell asleep.