Sorting Through Life's Puzzle Pieces

Chapter 19

          Maeve wandered around the park, taking in the sparkly snow and shining icicles. While There had been the disaster of a blizzard at Christmas, January was proving to be quite lovely as far as snow went and she wasn't going to pass up the frozen beauty of it. She knew once spring came the rose bushes would be uncovered, the tulips, daffodils and lilies would start to come out and the trees would turn green again in the birth of new life. April showers bring May flowers...what a joke. She thought to herself. March brings the rain and April brings all the colors of the rainbow back into the world. Maybe I'll be able to put some of the plants by open windows this year.

"Mae! Mae!" She turned to the frantic yelling as the person ran up to her. "Miss Beatrice needs you to come right away. Wouldn't tell me why." Maeve recognized the teen who had run up to her and quickly followed to the usual area of London that she found her in.

"I knew you would be quick about it. Now Maeve, I know you want to help people, and you are going to be stubborn about it, but I need you to stay away until summer gets here."

"What the bloody hell for? We've only got another few weeks until spring and the worst was last month. You still need food and blankets. What about the children?"

"We already sent as many families as we could find to the shelters, with messages for those that run those horrid things. The Cummings kids had to go to the hospital yesterday. It's too dangerous for you to stay out in this with us. You know all of us out here love ya, but you just need to listen to us and stay away. We got plenty of help for it."

Maeve had blanched at the news of those two tiny humans. Just two and three years old, with their young parents having been left, broke, abandoned and homeless from the recession. Now they little things were in hospital with god knows what and she knew if she asked no one would tell her.

"I love you, Aunt Bea, but you are not going to scare me away from this. The whole reason the families were out here was because the shelters were so awful and unclean. My regular delivery is in two days' time and I expect to find you all here, with hands to forward to those who need it. Now I need to get going before I lose a day to this."

Bea watched her head back to the underground and shook her head. There really was no stopping a Capricorn when they put their mind to something.

SIX WEEKS LATER

Tom was just picking up his bags from the round about when his phone rang. Anyone watching would have seen his whole demeanor change as his face lit up at the screen.

"Hello, Angel...I w- "

"No time Romeo. How far away are ya.?"

"Bea? I'm at the airport, what's wrong?" He was sure his face would be quite frightening to anyone watching, as this was not what he expected.

"Maeve just passed out. My boys are taking her to the shelter over here in Cardiff, but you need to get there as fast as you can."

"I'm getting a taxi," he ran in front of someone to yank the door open and jump in. "Sorry, emergency! Cardiff family shelter, as fast as possible please. Bea take care of my girl, please." She didn't miss the desperation in his voice. She may be sixty, but she knew what the woman meant to Tom, especially since he found her after such a rough patch in his life.

"I will do my best." She hung up the phone on him and he had to hold back tears from his worry.

It didn't take long to get there, and the taxi conceded to keep the meter running as Tom ran inside. "We're right here, Romeo." He turned a quick corner, sliding on the floor a little bit with the wetness from the early spring rain. What he saw made his stomach drop.

Maeve was white as a ghost, giving weak coughs and if the washcloth was any indication, had a very serious fever. Bea kept her wrapped in a thin blanket and he could see her shivering from the doorway he had just passed through.

"No time to waste with explanations. You get your girl to the London, tell them the Cardiff group has had an outbreak of viral pneumonia. You fool girl wouldn't stay away, I told her this time of year was dangerous. Now you get her out of here quick." Tom was frozen from what Beatrice had just told him. Fear like he had never felt before ran through him. "NOW! GO now, boy!" Beatrice's shout pulled him back to himself and he quickly lifted Maeve into his arms, running out to the still waiting taxi.

"London hospital, don't worry about the police!" The driver didn't need told twice as he stomped on the gas pedal, the tires squealing on take-off. Both Tom and the driver were watching Maeve as they went, though the latter was also required to watch the rode as well. He was a little afraid that the redhead in his passengers' arms might die in his car, then he would have to find another second job.

Coming up to the emergency entrance, Tom jumped out throwing far too many bills at the driver. The police car had started following them half-way on, but as soon as the officer saw Tom run in with his arms full he didn't pursue further. He and the taxi driver shared a serious look and, with a nod to the other, left.

"Help!! Please!"

"Set her here, sir. Can you tell me what happened?"

"I was just off a plane when her friend called me from her phone. She said to tell you that the Cardiff group has come down with viral pneumonia." Tom 's voice finally gave out as they started to stop him at a set of doors. "Please...please tell me my Angel is going to be alright."

"We are going to do everything we can. We need room to work so you need to wait here. What's her name?"

"Maeve Hiddleston. Please *choked sob* I can't lose her. I've only just got her."

"We will do everything we can for her. Who do I look for?"

"Tom, Tom Hiddleston. I need to call her family. Is it alright if I call them?"

The nurses face gave a brief flash of recognition as she caught up to the very common conversation she was having. She regained her professional demeanor as she sent him to the waiting room. Holy crap!!! I really hope we can save Tom Hiddleston's wife. Some army we are if we can't.