I8: House Call

[Claire McKenna]

Claire knocks on Victoria's room, carrying a clipboard and a medical bag. She's dressed in her scrubs, including special gloves that made it easier for patients to handle her touch.

"Ms. Valentine?" Claire asks, "Are you here?"

[Victoria Valentine]

A tired voice answered. "If you're selling something, I'll buy ten if you'll go away."

[Claire McKenna]

"I'm here for your check up, Ms. Valentine," Claire says, "Can I come in?"

[Victoria Valentine]

There was a tired, resigned sound from inside. "Yes, yes, it's open..."

[Claire McKenna]

Claire opens the door and steps inside.

"Hi," Claire says, "I'm Claire. From the infirmary. They sent me to make sure you were alright."

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria looked exhausted, and was bouncing a fussy baby, trying to get it to sleep. She looked at the girl flatly, and said, in a dry tone, "I'm just lovely."

[Claire McKenna]

"Yeah, you look like the picture of health," Claire says, setting her bag and clipboard down, "I promise. This won't take long. Just a quick physical for you and your baby. And then I'm out of your hair, okay?"

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria sighed, holding up a hand. "Sorry, sorry... I'm tired, and she's fussy, and that makes me fussy, and that makes her fussier... long night. Day. What time is it?"

[Claire McKenna]

"Afternoon," Claire says, "Around four. And it's alright. I've got thick skin."

"Can I hold her?" Claire asks gently.

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria hesitated, then nodded slowly. She obviously doesn't give Vivien over easily to many people, but she handed the baby to the nurse.

[Claire McKenna]

Claire held her gently and carefully. Apparently, she had some practice with this.

"She's very cute," Claire says, "What's her name?"

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria smiled slightly at the compliment. "She's perfect. And her name is Vivien," she said. Vivien looked to be a perfectly healthy and normal baby... Though the color of her skin and hair had faded since her birth, showing that she would likely take after her mother very soon.

[Claire McKenna]

"She's the picture of health," Claire says after finishing up the exam, "You on the other hand are a wreck."

She passes Vivien back to Victoria.

[Victoria Valentine]

"Keep charming me like that and I'll question your intentions," Victoria shot back, taking The baby over to her bassinet.

[Claire McKenna]

"Right now, my intention is to make sure you aren't going to collapse from exhaustion," Claire says, "Take a seat."

[Victoria Valentine]

"I'll be fine," Victoria muttered, taking a seat on the bed.

[Claire McKenna]

"Famous last words of the terminally stupid," Claire says, "Roll up your sleeve. I need your blood pressure."

As she talks, Claire takes a blood pressure cuff out of her bag.

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria would submit herself to whatever tests she had to give her, and the results would be rather what was expected. She was exhausted and stressed, but other than that, taking care of herself as well as one who was exhausted and stressed and a bloody perfectionist like Victoria would be able to.

[Claire McKenna]

"You can put your shirt back on now," Claire says after the tests were over, scribbling in her clipboard.

"Vivien shows early signs of physical mutation," Claire says, sounding professional, "I'd like to have the doctors to run some tests in the infirmary. It will take a few hours. You can come with us and I'll make you up a bed while you're waiting."

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria sighed. "All right, I'll take her down in the morning," she sighed.

[Claire McKenna]

"I'll put you on my schedule," Claire says, making a note. She also hands Victoria a card with her extension on it.

"If you need anything," Claire says, smiling a bit, "Even just someone to watch Vivien for a few hours while you get a nap, alright?"

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria hesitated. "How busy are you right now?"

[Claire McKenna]

"By a wild coincidence, I just happen to be free," Claire says.

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria sighed. "I... would appreciate being able to get a little sleep," she admitted.

[Claire McKenna]

"Then get into bed," Claire says with a small grin, "Consider it nurse's orders if you have to."

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria nodded tiredly and lay down, and was asleep in short order, just showing how tired she'd been. SHe wouldn't wake for a couple hours at least, or whenever Claire woke her.

[Claire McKenna]

Claire let her sleep as long as she would. Taking care of checking up on Vivien as needed.