And every breath becomes a sigh

[notquitefacist.livejournal.com]

*Midway into the morning, Crouch Sr.'s personal owl bypasses all usual channels of post sent to the Minister's office and is let directly into his office. In mere moments the door opens again as Crouch Sr. hands a list to his senior secretary and heads out, pulling his coat on as he goes, buttoning each button with practised precision, one per step. The secretarial force is left in his wake, a flurry of papers, memos, and Floo calls being sent out in record time, not a single person in his office underestimating the importance of rearranging the day's schedule quickly and efficiently to adapt without any proper explanation as to why and what the letter had contained.

Despite his abrupt departure, by the time he makes it back down to Brighton and Winky closes the door behind him, the situation has greatly diffused itself, returning the bedroom to it's usual silent place Bernadette is left to rest. He sits in thought, now, long fingers pinching his chin as he stares at Bernadette's back and the tumble of long pale hair on the bedspread. She is facing away from him, on her side to keep blood that is leaking into her right lung from draining into her left, but the wheezing had stopped quite soon after he had arrived and he knows without watching her face that she is in less pain. Even so, his brow doesn't smooth. A glass ball like the buoy off a fishing net hovers above Healer Southwell on the opposite side of the bed, empty of blood for now, but bobbing peacefully as Southwell awaits Crouch Sr. and Bernadette's decision.*

We simply don't want to go through the period of healing after a surgery if there is another option. You know almost as well as I do how sensitive that time can be for her.

Comments

[caretocure.livejournal.com]

Of course, Mr. Crouch. It would be the hardest on her, you are right, but it also would also prove to be a much more precise way of draining the lung.

[notquitefacist.livejournal.com]

That's not the only concern here. It came from somewhere, brought on by something. What would your surgery do to prevent this from happening again in the same way?

[caretocure.livejournal.com]

*Roderick straightens from listening to Bernadette's lungs.*

I'm afraid these things can happen from... otherwise minor events. You mentioned her cough? That could very easily have weakened wall. From everything I can see there isn't a break we could patch over, the reason neither of us realised this until today is because it's a seepage of sorts into the cavity, not a direct bleed.

[notquitefacist.livejournal.com]

*Looking away from Bernadette to evaluate Roderick's diagnosis, he makes his decision very quickly.*

Then that's too invasive. We will have to find an alternative way, I won't have her cut into if the area is as fragile as you say it is.

[caretocure.livejournal.com]

Well, now, I know there is some concern given the circumstances. But we simply would have to be careful to seal the incision well before there is too much bleeding, the tissue itself isn't thin it's the quality of the blood.

My main concern now is how long her lung has been filling. We don't want to risk it collapsing. And I'm sure you'd like to be able to breathe better as soon as possible, Bernadette.

[consumptivewife.livejournal.com]

*Bernadette is no stranger to pain or emergency. In one form or another these themes pervade the Crouch household through every niche and every corner. She wheezes as levelly as possible, focusing all her energy on maintaining calm - if only for the distraction stoicism provides. She nods to Southwell, not really agreeing to any one position, not particularly listening.*

[caretocure.livejournal.com]

Now, remember to alert us if you're finding it harder to breathe. No change to slight.

If it worsens our decision may be made for us, Mr. Crouch.