Re: Visiting the Hospital
Daniel had so much to bring with to this meeting, a perspective that stretched back centuries to when the likelihood that both woman and child would survive birth made anything like a baby shower completely absurd. In the decades that Daniel had seen whole, infants were lost quickly to sickness as if time could not bear them all, and had his mind been fully present on his purpose hospital lobby, he would have done far better to remember that, and appreciate the appearance of Sam, who was not only on her feet but a mother still. Unfortunately, Daniel's unreasoning horror of hospitals (much of it the combined sensations, the footsteps, the lights, the quantity of bleach that would never erase the smell of blood from something like him) weighed his mind down like bricks tied to a corpse, keeping him deep in cold waters that were not entirely known to him despite their age. If he looked sour, it was because he was doing his deliberate best to stay still, and not go any farther into the dubious shell of his coat than absolutely necessary. The nurse behind the desk was already staring at him with practiced, professional caution, since the dark coat and the expression made him look like one of those that might break down into fits.
Sam's surprise appearance did much to shake Daniel out of his emotions, however, and he was genuinely happy and relieved to see her. Unlike Louis and Iris, he didn't expect her to look at all well, as in the annals of his mind pregnancy was a type of illness that not all women survived. Sam was connected to cords and obviously felt horrible, but she was alive and her pulse was strong even after the trip. Cris smelled more strongly of injury than his friend did, and Daniel gave her a delighted smile before he remembered where they were. He did not get in line for a hug, instead he shadowed her chair and by the time Cris reappeared (that they had separated for any length of time while Sam was conscious greatly surprised Daniel and made him suspicious) he was sitting next to her with a cool arm worked under her elbow. The contact was reminiscent of a lean if they had been standing. He gave her a speaking smile that was a combination of nervousness, pride and and satisfaction that she looked (to him) so well.
Daniel had not been present for any modern births, you may well imagine.
Daniel willingly shook Cris' hand with his own, entirely unhesitating with the gesture and contact despite his obvious unease with the setting. He didn't look down at Cris' other hand but the nearness of the traces under the bandage made his nostrils flare. Louis might notice. "How is the new small one?"