[ Twenty-three minutes past four. Eleven minutes since Halcyon was admitted into the ER. Only now has the numbing haze of shock worn off, replaced by a weariness that sucks at Everett's marrow, a deep thrum of anxiety he's convinced won't ever abate. He reaches for his phone automatically, and before he can stop himself-- ]
[ Ring. Ring. Ring. He listens, chews on his lip. Paces the small private room he's paid off some of the staff to wait in. And then, a click. ]
Everett (hurried): Easton? Grazie Dio, you picked up.
Everett: Are you alright?
[ The buzz of his phone is startlingly loud in the silence of the office and he almost curses as he fumbles it out of his pocket and swipes the screen, risking a quick glance over the desk to see if the noise had been noticed. ]
Easton (voice pitched low so as not to carry): A few bruises and some stiff muscles is the worst I've got to complain about. My end's been rather underwhelming so far.
[ Of course, he wasn't out the door yet. He wasn't sure whether he wanted to slink out with the sting of retreat unnoticed or leave his own mark on someone's flesh and go out swinging. As tempting as the latter is, he's smart enough to try for the former. ]
Easton: Did you get out alright?
