JP - Delilah's Son

“Bronte?” Delilah’s voice came over the radio. “That you, Bronte?! Wait, who’s in pain?! Why?! What happened to you?!”

“Delilah!” Tears sprung to Bronte’s eyes. “It’s Bella, the dog girl. She has that broken leg and wound in her side. I was caught by MegaCorp but someone helped me escape.”

“Thank God! Are you okay?! Are both of you okay?! Oh God! Which safehouse are you hiding in?! There should be a name on the paper!” Delilah babbled, so happy to hear his voice. Bronte was like a son to her, after all.

“‘Beaniewax Pimpleson’,” Bronte read off the paper. “Er, that’s what it really says. I’m… I’ll be okay.” He was still traumatized by what Coral did to him but physically he was mostly okay.

“I know where that one is.” Delilah said, calming down only a fraction. “I’ll be there as soon as possible. Don’t answer the door to that room unless you hear me say that name. As ridiculous as it is, people don’t believe they’re safehouses so they’re hidden well.”

Bella whimpered and tugged at Bronte’s pants as her pain got worse.

“Bella is in a lot of pain.” Bronte said, trying to calm her by patting her on her head.

Leaning into his leg, Bella just whimpered again. The pain was becoming a bit unbearable, growing worse with each hour that passed by them.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can, but it’ll take an hour…we’re gonna come in through the tunnel system so no one will know.” Delilah replied. “Can she hold out that long?”

“I don’t know.” Bronte said. “I don’t think there are any painkillers here.”

“Hmmm,” Delilah thought for a moment. “There is a med-kit under the mattress. Can you check? I think there’s some pain reliever in there. It might take the edge off for her.”

Bronte reached under the bed and pulled out the med-kit. He opened it and took out some aspirin. He offered them to Bella. "It has aspirin."

“Okay, hopefully that’ll take the edge off for her. You might…uh…have to help her take it if she’s as dog-like as you mentioned.” Delilah replied. “Get my fucking shotgun already, you asshats! Sorry, not you Bronte. These idiots…I swear the only people I can work with are Frisk and Mark.”

Bella sniffed at the pills in confusion.

"She's not taking them." Bronte sighed. "They'll make the pain better…" he tried hiding the pills in a granola bar and offering it to her.

Bella happily took and ate the granola bar, not at all aware of the pills.

Delilah was silent for a moment. "Okay, I'm on my way, Bronte. Try to rest while you wait."

“She took some aspirin.” Bronte said in relief as he settled on the bed. “I’ll try to sleep… Thank you.”

“Just keep the door closed and locked.” Delilah insisted before having to hang up.

Bronte did not want to get up, but he got out of the bed to go over to the door. After making sure it was locked he flopped on the bed and closed his eyes.

Bella moved close to Bronte and curled up against his side, falling asleep simply because she had him there. It was when a knock occurred at the door that she jerked up and barked loudly at it hours later.

“Bronte!” Delilah yelled. “It’s Delilah! Uh…oh, God, I can’t believe I’m saying this…Beaniewax Pimpleson!”

Bronte fell fast asleep, only to be woken by the barking hours later. He sleepily got out of bed, staggered to the door and opened it when he heard Delilah say the silly name.

Upon seeing Bronte, Delilah instantly pulled him into a tight hug. “You’re alive! You’re here! Oh, Thank God!” She said quickly.

Bella blinked and watched, tumbling out of the bed as she tried to keep up with Bronte.

Bronte was hugged by Delilah. He smiled for a moment, then burst into tears and started sobbing.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Delilah sighed softly, stroking his hair in a motherly manner. “Lets get you and Bella to the Underground, okay?”

“Yes.” Bronte hiccuped. He had been through a lot.

Giving him another hug, she instructed the others with her to get Bella. "They'll get her to the medical ward when we're back." She explained, but frowned when the dog girl fought the people.

Bella barked and flailed until they released her. Once free, she scrambled over to Bronte and clung to one of his legs like a frightened puppy.