IC Inbox (v1.0)

[jumpthegun]

You've reached Dr. John Watson. Please leave a message.

Comments

[jumpthegun]

I plan on asking Mr. Taylor that myself when I get a moment alone with him.

[Sherlock will just tell him to stop posturing.]

[devoutish]

I never liked serial killers.

[jumpthegun]

I never did, either. They usually get him excited, though.

[devoutish]

Because they're puzzles. That sounds an awful lot like being toys to me.

[jumpthegun]

It's not like that.

[It's exactly like that, and their first encounter with Moriarty's game had ended up in them rowing because of it.]

He gets serious when he needs to get serious. It's not just a game.

[devoutish]

I truly hope you're right, because none of this is a game to me.

[jumpthegun]

[It's a game to Sherlock. John knows it. 'The game is on.' But it's more than that, too.]

It's not a game for any of us, Alfie. It's probably why he wants to use Mr. Taylor. He'll figure out a way to make him useful so he can get us out of here. Sherlock wants that just the same as anyone else.

[devoutish]

I hope you're right, because I am very tired.

[jumpthegun]

We all are. I'll let you know what I find out for Mr. Taylor when I can corner him.

[devoutish]

Yes, do that.

I've got another favor to ask of you. Pain medication for children--?

[jumpthegun]

How bad is it?

[devoutish]

Worse than she pretends, I think.

[jumpthegun]

I'm deciding between giving her NSAIDs and narcotics, Alfie. I need a little more specificity than that. If you had to guess on a scale of 1 to 10 where she's at, where would she fall? 1 being a mild soreness after running around too much, and 10 being intense and pervasive pain that prevents her from focusing on anything.

[devoutish]

That's not a question I should answer for her. I'll ask.

What are NAIDs?

[jumpthegun]

Just let me know.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Basically, I'm talking about things like ibuprofen or aspirin.

[devoutish]

Sounds safer than a narcotic.

It's in her hands. She has trouble writing sometimes, and she likes to draw.

[jumpthegun]

They are safer, but depending on her pain level, they might not be enough. That's why I'd like to know where she is on that scale.

[devoutish]

Say it's bad enough that you give her the narcotics. What might they do that could hurt her?

[jumpthegun]

The biggest risks for kids are the same as for adults. They're just even more fragile and their dosing has to be carefully monitored. Long-term use can lead to liver damage. An accidental overdose could cause her problems breathing. And they'll probably cause her to have mood swings.

[devoutish]

We'll hold on to the bottle for her no matter what you give her.

What sort of mood swings? Why would pain medicine cause that?

[jumpthegun]

Euphoria's common with narcotics. Sometimes the swings can be to depression. You've taken then before. Kids are especially sensitive. The medication is basically designed to trick the brain. They don't take away the cause of the pain, they alter your perception of it. Sometimes that signal gets jumbled up badly and it can throw off the chemical balance of the brain entirely.

[devoutish]

I don't like the sound of that. I don't want to give anything like that to her.

[jumpthegun]

Every medication comes with risks, Alfie. That's why I want to know what her actual pain levels are. If they're off the charts, she's going to need something strong. If they're moderate, we can go with a moderate option.

[devoutish]

I'm not giving her anything that carries that big a risk. That's non-negotiable.

[jumpthegun]

This isn't a negotiation, Alfie. It's about what medication is best for her based on her symptoms. In very careful doses, narcotics can be helpful. I trust you, Tifa, and Duster can be very careful when it matters.