Got a buzz in my head Who: Dagmar, Kajsa and Linnea Where: Linnea's room When: Morning
Having reached the middle ground of being forty, Linnea knew that whenever something was even the slightest bit off with her body that she should get it checked out. Which was why she had sacrificed her morning swim to go into the doctor for an early morning physical. Just the basics, something that she tended to go through every few months. True her last had been about six months ago but she kept coming up with excuses because it could be such a tedious thing. That and for some reason her appointments had fallen on Mondays and those were usually a terrible day for anyone to see her. A doctor would see all of the bruises and the water elemental doubted she could explain those away. Thankfully now they were all gone so she had gone in, gotten a variety of tests in addition to a blood test because, well, she could be a touch paranoid about that with how much of hers had been taken in a variety of ways throughout her life. The last thing she needed was some strange infection just because someone had used an unclean knife or had not washed their mouth out. Though the doctor had mentioned something in passing, something that she desperately hoped had been a joke but had been ringing through her mind from the moment she left until she arrived back in her room. Something about how it would be just like a movie if she ended up pregnant with her husband's child with him so recently dead.
'You worry too much.'
"I know." Strike had curled around her neck when she came home and did not seem to have any intention of moving. Linnea was grateful for the affection, actually, because her mind was awhirl with the possibilities of things she did not really think she wanted. Yes, there had been that last Sunday but surely he had not... it happened before. Three times to be exact. Whose to say it didn't again? She was to say, she was too old for this! Something Bradley had said some time ago about her not being too old for anything rung through her mind. That was who she wanted for comfort right then while she waited for the doctor to call with her results. Because he would. Yes, he would call and tell her that she was in the clear and there was nothing to worry about. But until then she knew that she would worry and at least he could soothe... Bradley. The new thought was enough to cause the water elemental to pause mid-pace and she looked at her own too-pale reflection with a measure of shock. It had been unexpected and quick and neither of them had been able to remember something so simple as a condom, not then. What if I am and it's his, not Jokull's? Not that it matters because I'm not pregnant. "I'm not pregnant."
'Of course not. Although you would make pretty hatchlings. How many eggs will you lay?'
Linnea was shocked right out of her thoughts and exchanged a long look with her familiar's reflection. "I don't... lay eggs."
'Then where do the hatchlings come from?'
"This isn't a discussion I want to have right now."
Strike's tongue flicked out at the air, tasting for a scent. 'Fine, I'll ask Kajsa.' Linnea was about to forbid him to do that, not that she thought he would listen, when the familiar stretched his thoughts out to those of Linnea's oldest daughter. 'Kajsa, your mom won't tell me where your hatchlings come from. Will you?'
I cannot kill him, I cannot kill him. You are so lucky I can't kill you.
'Stop thinking in Finnish, it's annoying.'
So are you. Maybe Kajsa was still sleeping and would not hear the snake.