superficial | twilight

12 - Disaster

King feels embarrassed as she sits curled up in a blanket in Carlisle's home office as he checks her pulse. "I'm sorry..."

"Don't be silly. Was that the worst panic attack you've ever had?" He asks as he kneels in front of her.

She nods small. "Yeah... I used to have small ones, mom always calmed me. That one... Didn't end well. I couldn't stop it, it felt like I was dying." She blushes.

Carlisle smiles small. "Yes, it will when your ribs are still healing. In fact they may be sore for a little while after that, okay?"

She nods small and looks up as Esme comes in. "How are you? Are you okay? You scared me there." She gushes and strokes Kings hair back.

"Sorry." King blushes as she leans into Esme's touch.

Esme looks at Carlisle. "All good now. Get her to bed, it's almost 5 am."

"No, I wanna go see dad." King says as she shakily stands.

"I'll take you as soon as you're up. But you have to sleep, Charlie's orders." Esme says sternly.

"Ugh, stupid Charlie." She mutters and drags herself back to the room she stayed in and claimed as hers. She falls on the bed and faces the window, not really feeling like sleep. She's exhausted, it's been a long day, but she can't sleep. Not with her dad... Yeah. Not when he's where he is.

She sighs and just lays watching the sky change from orange to pink to blue to grey all in the space of 10 minutes; the rain starts about the same time her tears do again but she doesn't wipe them away. She doesn't exactly know where they came from because she isn't crying - well not intentionally, at least.

The next thing she's consciously aware of is the sound of her uncles gruff voice downstairs. She sits up and wraps the blanket around herself more before she trudged down there. Charlie looks up and sighs. "What happened to sleep, kid?"

"Can I go see him?" She asks quietly.

"Uh.." He hesitates. "Rachel doesn't want you there right now. She said she'll leave around midday for you to go see him but she'll be back about 3."

Kings heart breaks. "He's my dad too..."

"I know kid. Once Rebecca gets here and I track down Jacob, I'm gonna talk to you all." Charlie says, his hands on his hips like always - they're either on his hips or crossed over his chest.

"Where's Jake?" She frowns, not that she's bothered; though, he should be here at a time like this.

"I got him handled, don't worry. I came to get you, take you back home to grab some things. Esme and I have talked... How do you feel about staying here for now? Or mine and Sue's?"

King looks at them both for a moment. Esme smiles gently. "You'll be free to come and go as you please. No curfew - well, to an extent. I won't be a nag and I promise I'll be here all the time for you."

King smiles small. "I mean... Okay. Sure. But I can grab my own things on my way to see him, okay? Just go get some rest, you're a mess." She pats her uncles shoulder.

His jaw drops. "Oh rich, coming from you Kingsley Paige." He nudges her. "I'll call you once I got some shut eye, okay?" He kisses her cheek.

She smiles small. "Love you, Charlie." She says as he heads out.

He smiles tiredly. "Love you too, kid." He waves as he drives away.

Esme closes the door and smiles. "Do you want company getting your things?" She asks gently.

King shakes her head, neatly setting the blanket over the back of the couch; she hasn't changed out of yesterday's clothes but they'll do for a visit to her dad. "I'm okay, thank you. I'm gonna go get some stuff and see dad."