The stabbing pains in his legs is what woke Higgs up first and then the dull throb of his stomach added to it. He felt like he was going to be sick, his stomach ready to eject bile... but the thought of vomiting only caused a headache. If he had to move his body in any way other than to look around, he feared he would just die. Opening his eyes was already hard enough... Everyone was fuzzy and unclear as he tried to get a bearing on his surroundings and where he was. In the moonlight, he thought he saw something above him and narrowed his eyes to see. He blinked a little at the figure.
"Papa...?" he whispered, his throat dry.
A pair of red eyes opened up and the white figure dropped down beside him, touching his head. The cool hand gave Higgs some reassurance and he smiled softly.
"Papa..."
"Don't move around too much, Higgs." Jamison said gruffly. "You have a lot of stitching."
"My legs hurt..."
"Lucus is coming by today to put some salve on them. Other than that, how are you feeling?" he asked softly, rubbing his son's cheek.
Higgs was still under the effects of the laudanum, even if he was awake and so the imported Italian sorbet waffle cornets sprouting from his father's head were quite funny. He pointed dismissively at him.
"Do you often sprout Italian sorbet waffle cornets?"
Jamison smiled. "Only when I've snacked on crumpets after midnight."
A pain shot through Higgs' legs and he twitched, which made things worse and he cried out in pain. Jamison shushed him softly as Higgs clenched the sheets to stifle the pain.
"It hurts!" he cried out, trying not to cry.
"I know it does, son. I'm so sorry that I couldn't be there for you when you needed me most."
"Where's Merida?"
"Merida?"
"I want to see... I want to see Merida."
Jamison frowned a little, remembering something about her getting taken in by the constable in regards to the event. It had been at least three days since then. He had been so worried about his son that he hadn't kept tabs on the MIA maid. He hoped she wasn't in jail...
"I'll have to ask your mother. She would know." He lied.
"She helps me when I'm strange..." Higgs mumbled, his eyes starting to droop.
"Yes, she seems to be quite fond of you."
"I can't tell her though... about the cure..."
"Why not?"
"... You... and mother..." he trailed off, finally going to sleep.
Jamison frowned at what he said and touched his face again. He could feel a fever developing and sighed. He went to the door and hissed at the light from the hallway.
"Davros." He snarled.
"Yes, milord." He said, appearing seemingly out of nowhere.
"Where is Ms. Dunbrough?"
"Uh... Last we saw of her she was being taken by the constable."
"Did anyone ever think to check on her and make sure she isn't going to hang?"
"We haven't heard anything about it."
"Higgs wants her home. Find her and bring her back here. What about the other that I asked for?"
"I delivered it and haven't heard any word on it yet. I believe they are still deliberating."
"Find Ms. Dunbrough."

******************

"Ye owe me five pounds." Merida said, holding her hand out of the bars.
The guard cursed under his breath and pulled out five notes, slapping them into Merida's hand.
"Thank ye kindly. I'll just put it over here in the other pile." She said, laying it on another stack of notes.
"Blimey, you're cleaning me out, Scot."
"I told ye not to take me lightly in a hand of cards. Do ye wish to make another bet to try and at least get back yer dignity?" she asked with a smirk.
"I think if I play anymore you'll wipe me out clean."
"Aye, wouldnae want ye wee wife to hurt ye."
The door opened and the constable came in. The guard looked at him and pointed.
"This woman is practically a thief."
"Hey now. If ye be talking like that, they'll keep me here even longer." Merida growled, grabbing her stack of cash. She looked at the constable. "Is there no word from Lord Northumberly?"
"Sorry, miss, but no. Despite what the judge says, if we can't get any confirmation on your master of the house to prove your innocence, we have to keep you here."
"Aye, I dinnae blame them for not coming. Mr. Higgs was in bad shape and Lord Northumberly was verra attentive to his son. I'd rather he take care of his bairn than worry about me." She shuffled the cards in her hands. "What about ye, Constable? Care for a hand?"
"I like my money to stay with me as long as possible, thank you."
"Ye afeart that I'll clean ye pockets out?"
The constable smiled. "I am."
Merida laughed. "Honest man; at least ye ken ye limits."
"Sir," someone said, coming up behind the constable.
"Yes?"
"I have a man who claims to be from Lord Jamison Northumberly's home to collect Ms. Dunbrough?"
"Ah. If you'll excuse me, I hope to be right back."
"Best be bringing a key with ye when ye come!" Merida yelled back at him.

**********************

The constable came to the front of the stationhouse and saw Davros standing there.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm under Lord Jamison Northumberly's service and he sent me to retrieve Ms. Dunbrough."
"Why didn't you come sooner?"
"We have been attending the young lord's needs. After all, he was practically gutted."
"So I've heard. Do you have your master's seal to sign this document then?"
Davros sighed. "No, I do not."
"Then we cannot let her go."
"Do you want me to have Lord Northumberly come on his own, then? I really don't think you want that." He said, knowing this news would anger Jamison.
Davros had dealt with the transformations ever since he had met Jamison when they were kids and he also knew that some of his more fierce personality traits came out in the original three transformations but mostly in the vampire or the werewolf. Jamison was already running off of lack of sleep and 'food', so this news would cause some bad problems.
"If you do not have his seal then we cannot release her. We need documented proof that she is who she says she is and a voucher."
Davros sighed. "Alright then. Don't say I didn't warn you..."

*********************

Davros walked back into the manor and was met by Margaret, who was just taking off her bonnet.
"Davros... where have you been?"
"I went to try and get Ms. Dunbrough from the brig- er, jail."
Margaret looked around him. "I don't see her."
"That's the trouble, ma'am, the constable wouldn't let me get her without the Northumberly seal to sign off that she was who she said she was. So... here I am."
"Jami's not going to like that."
"Aye, I know. What are you doing here?"
"Checking on my son, of course; and also planning dinner."
"I see. I will inform Jami of the issue."
Davros walked up the stairs and knocked on the door. No one answered so he opened and was met with a death glare from Jamison.
"What." He snarled.
Davros noticed there was a lot of blood and Jamison's face was covered in it too.
"What are you doing?"
"What the hell does it look like I'm doing?"
"I'm not sure... Feeding, to me...."
"That's not it..." He looked down. "I mean, it kind of is but not really."
"Then what are you doing?"
"I could smell the infection in his blood and so I decided to get it out... and then I got carried away."
Higgs whimpered, holding onto the blood stained sheets. Davros made a face at his employer.
"I think you should leave for a moment and I have news on Ms. Dunbrough."
Jamison reluctantly set Higgs to the side on the bed and got up to follow Davros.
When he closed the door, Davros turned around and smacked Jamison as hard as he could. Even then, he hissed in pain and jumped up and down.
"That will leave a bruise for sure and most likely won't be able to use that hand..." Davros growled.
"Why did you do that then?"
"You're not pacing yourself and just causing more problems than you're worth. Now Higgs has to deal with blood loss as well as the pain he's already in. You're causing problems."
"It wasn't intentional! Now what's the deal with Ms. Dunbrough?"
"They need your seal to get her out."
"Oh, bloody hell, I'll go down there myself and get her out." He snarled, tromping down the stairs.
Davros walked after him as Jamison went straight for the door.
"Sir."
"What?"
"Your cloak? It's in the middle of the day."
Jamison grumbled as he went to find his cloak and Davros smiled after him. Sometimes I wonder if he will ever grow up... he thought as Jamison left the manor.

***********************

"Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing
Onward! The sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye

Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar
Thunderclaps rend the air
Baffled, our foes stand by the shore
Follow they will not dare-"
"I didn't know you people still sung songs about those Jacobites..."
"Tis but a song now, nothing to go forth with and nothing to claim thrones by. It's a part of our history, ye ken."
"It's a part of British history as well... a defeat to you all."
Merida frowned. She wasn't very fond of this particular guard. He came after the fun one and it was boring as hell when he was there. He distinctly didn't like her because she was Scottish and Merida didn't care for him much anyway. He was too serious.
"It doesnae matter then, does it? Not like Bonnie Prince Charles will be trying anything new and I'm fairly sure the coward is dead. Where did he go again?"
"France, I believe."
"Aye, France."
"You're awfully unsupportive."
"Why should I be? It was afore my time and like ye said, the Scots lost. Clansmen were killed for a ruse of a fight, given false hope in something that could never happen. Then that coward escaped and spent his good days in France while many people mourned the loss of their friends and family. The only thing left of the Jacobites is a poem... and the meaning behind it fades with every year. It's a pretty melody... we sing it to the bairns."
The door suddenly opened and they both looked up as the constable walked in, looking like he had seen a ghost.
"H-h-here." He said, holding out the keys.
The current guard took them from his shaking hands and looked at them.
"What are these for?"
"Release her. She's free."
"Finally!" she cried as he opened the door.
She walked out of the room and saw Jamison standing there.
"Lord Northumberly..."
"Higgs is calling for you. I heard there was a problem and so I came to retrieve you."
"Thank ye... I'll see ye later, lads."
She walked out with Jamison and her smile fell.
"How is he?"
"Lucus got him all sewed up but he's very heavily drugged and yet he's still in pain. He called for you and has been since he awoke."
"What will this do to him? I mean... how does it seem like he's taking it?"
"Poorly. Have you ever been almost killed?"
"As a matter of fact, I have... I had brothers to help me but he must feel so alone with all the changings and whatnot."
"He'll need you now more than ever."
"Aye, I ken that."

******************

The two walked back into the manor and were met by the painful moans of Higgs in the upper room. Merida immediately headed up the stairs while Jamison found Margaret.
"What's going on?"
"The laudanum is wearing off and Lucus hasn't come yet. He's in so much pain..." Margaret took a hold of Jamison's hands and frowned. "You went without your ring again."
"There was an emergency."
"You should wear the ring at all times during the month of the vampire. It will at least keep you from going up in flames."
"I think you have that confused with my phoenix state."
"No, I've seen you be an idiot and go straight outside in the blaring sun in your vampire form. You burst into flames just like a phoenix except you almost die."
"Fair enough..." he said with a smile, kissing her on the forehead. "I will retrieve the ring immediately."

**********************

Merida went opened the door from where the moaning was coming from and saw Higgs in the bed, tossing and turning. She walked briskly to him and touched his cheek, shushing him gently. He opened his eyes and gave her a tired smile. She could tell he was in a lot of pain and when he went to speak, she put her hand over his mouth.
"Ye be quiet now. No need for ye to speak. I'm here now and I willnae leave yer side." She said, holding onto his hand.
He smiled again and then clenched her hand in agony from the wounds. The door opened and Lucus walked in.
"I apologize; I was in the middle of something. I'll start a new dosage of laudanum while you go and freshen up."
"Freshen up? At a time like this?"
"Ms. Dunbrough, pardon my curtness, but you smell like the back end of a horse."
Merida frowned. "Oh."
"Don't worry about Higgs. We'll get the salve on his wounds and something for the pain and move on from this catastrophe."
Merida sighed but nodded, knowing that her being in the way could hinder Higgs' treatment.