Her dragon replied, We and Ara are doing our best. And Aimee is better. Take joy in the progress she's made so far and accept that not even you can perform miracles, no matter how hard you try to make them happen.
Layla grunted but didn't reply as she entered the kitchen. Holly and Logan had cleaned up the room, as well as refreshed the necessary medical supplies needed for almost any emergency with Aimee.
Holly was the first to speak. "You calmed her down, which is a relief. I hate having to force her to do anything."
Logan offered Layla a cup of black tea, and she gratefully took it. After a sip of the hot, slightly bitter liquid, she replied, "All we can do is take it one day at a time. Although if she keeps talking and revealing more bit by bit, it may give me more clues in how to treat her."
Holly asked, "Have Sid and Gregor found out anything from the other doctors?"
Sid and Gregor, Stonefire's main doctors and a mated pair, were trying to create a worldwide sharing and networking database for dragon-shifter doctors. Layla often asked about their progress, hoping to use some of their methods to one day reach out to human doctors as well. "No, not yet. But they'll keep trying. Don't worry."
They chatted a bit about clan news until Arabella appeared in the kitchen. Without preamble, she said, "I want Aimee to meet Freya."
Freya was Arabella's wee daughter. Layla blinked. "What?"
Arabella shrugged. "It's not such a strange suggestion. After all, the video works well with Aimee, and I think the real thing might help her even more. With Freya around, she might even start talking more. We won't know until we try."
Freya wasn't even a year old and had started shifting into a dragon much earlier than usual. As a result, she was the darling of the entire clan, but none more so than to her father. Layla replied, "Finn will never allow it, aye? And I'm not about to suggest it to him."
Arabella waved a hand in dismissal. "I'll convince him to do it, even if it takes a day or two. He knows I'd never intentionally put Freya in harm's way. And his entire job is to help the clan, just like you, Layla, albeit in different ways. Even if Aimee is merely a foster, that doesn't matter to Finn. Anyone here is his responsibility, end of story."
Layla sighed as she put her mug on the counter. "Aye, I well know that, Ara. But seeing Freya in her dragon form up close may trigger Aimee's beast, and we have no idea how she'll act once she finally comes out."
Holly spoke up. "Then let Aimee see wee Freya from the window first. That way, everything can be contained and monitored. If it goes well, then we can try closer distances until we're confident she can handle Freya in the same room."
Layla eyed the human female. "Not only could the situation regress Aimee at any time, it would eventually endanger Freya."
Holly shrugged. "Everything would be done quite carefully. And we won't know if interacting with Freya will help Aimee or not. Besides, as I heard it, Arabella needed unusual methods herself to fully come out of her shell. Being cautious with Aimee has helped a wee bit, but videos of Freya in her dragon form are the only things that have worked every time, without fail. It's worth a shot."
As Layla glanced between Arabella and Holly, mulling their suggestion, her dragon spoke up. At least try it through the window. If the experience does have a negative impact, it's better to do it now than months down the line, when it would erase any other kind of progress.
Layla resisted a mental growl. I hate guessing and not knowing what will happen. Give me someone in an operating theater, or a sick child, and I know what to do. But the situation with Aimee? I could ruin her life forever with one misstep.
Her dragon huffed. Stop it. We're helping. Bloody hell, she started talking for the first time since she was released from the Skyhunter prison. That in and of itself is a huge step and probably one of the greatest tools going forward. I think we can help heal her even more.
Arabella said, "Well? What does your dragon say?"
Layla looked at the other female askance and muttered, "Of course she's on your side. She almost always is."
Arabella nodded with a smile. "Right, then I'll get to work on Finn. We can wait for one of Aimee's better days to try it."
"Am I even needed here?" Layla drawled.
Holly snorted. "Aye, of course you are. This is a team effort." Before Layla could reply, the human walked up and gently pushed her toward the door. "And whilst we usually love your company, go home. You need some sleep. I know you've been awake for more than a day, Layla. Take care of yourself. Me, Logan, and the others will hold down the fort for a wee while."
At the mention of tiredness, Layla's entire body felt heavy, and any desire to fight it evaporated. Her nursing and support staff were some of the few who knew just how much Layla worked day in and day out. "Just for a bit, to refresh my mind. But make sure to call me if anything comes up, and I mean anything."
"Of course," Holly stated. She pointed toward the exit. "Now, go."
The human only ever ordered Layla around when she needed to rest. And she wasn't going to argue. "Aye, well, I'll see you later."
As she left the cottage, she headed in the direction of the surgery. She was too tired to de
al with Chase, so she'd use the room inside the surgery with a bed she'd set up for whenever she needed it.
Her dragon growled. Coward.
Ignoring her beast, she somehow made it to the bed, lay down, and instantly fell asleep.