[Action/Dictated]

[deductiongeek]

[Conan really should have known better than to open a book near the stairs. He was perfectly aware of the damage a fall down stairs could do to the human body.

But it was a new detective novel that he'd just managed to find in the library. One that he'd never read.  And so for a brief moment he couldn't resist cracking it open.

And consequently slips on a fallen piece of paper and falls down the stairs.  He only has time for a shout of alarm into the journal.]

Comments

[thebestseller]

[Castle had heard the shout over the journal and become curious. It wasn't followed by any further noise, but that didn't mean somebody wasn't in trouble.

He began to poke around the castle, looking for the source of the noise, before his heart stopped as he spotted the small body at the bottom of the stairs.]

Conan!

[He ran toward his little buddy, feeling his pulse- good, he was still alive. And had a book next to him. Castle sighed and closed it before scooping him up.]

To the infirmary with you, buddy.

[freeslider]

[Enter Wade, running towards the sound of the shout, and finds Castle with the unconscious boy]

Oh my God, what happened?!

[thebestseller]

[Castle jerked his head toward Wade, motioning for her to follow as he set off, gently holding the unconscious boy as steadily as he could.]

Think he tripped on the stairs- with his nose in a book. Typical...

[freeslider]

[She checks the boy over a little as they walk]

I take it you know who he is?

[thebestseller]

Yeah. Conan's always got his nose in a book. [He shifted the boy a little to hold him more comfortably.] I just hope he didn't break anything.

[freeslider]

I can see why you'd know him...[He gives Castle a small smirk and goes back to poking at the boy]

Well, his bones are at least all inside his body, so even if they are it's at least not that bad. Maybe just a concussion, which is...bad in a different way...

[thebestseller]

Yeah, he appears to be more or less intact. Still, it could be something internal. [Castle took a deep breath as he walked.] He can read all he wants when he's well again.

[freeslider]

I'm sure they have good doctors [She seemed to be telling herself, and seemed to walk a little bit faster]

[thebestseller]

I've heard good stuff about our medical staff, yeah. Had to call them to the bar a few times...

[The talking was a nice distraction.]

[freeslider]

[She's happy to provide that much, considering there isn't a lot else that she can]

Do people actually fight up there sometimes?

[thebestseller]

It's called the Death Match for a reason. Nobody's actually died there, thankfully, but like any bar we have our share of disorderly conduct.

[freeslider]

What's a bar without a little of that?

I hope that's not where you met him.

[thebestseller]

Conan? Nah, we bonded over a mutual love of detective stories. ... After he rolled his eyes and groaned at a lame joke I made.

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine had come investigating after hearing Conan's shout. Best to make sure he wasn't getting kidnapped or anything.

She spots Castle not far from the clinic... as well as the kid in his arms.]

Conan! [She yells, running up to them. Dairine scowls up at Castle accusingly, as though it was his fault for Conan's state. (It probably isn't, but you never know.)] What happened to him?

[thebestseller]

I found him at the foot of the stairs with a book next to him, so my guess is he tripped and knocked himself out.

[Castle shook his head.]

[wizard_redfive]

Are you serious? [Dairine is somewhat dubious. Conan could be a little thick when it came to his personal safety, but she didn't think he was that dumb.]

You sure no one pushed him down?

[thebestseller]

I didn't see anybody, but, well... if someone pushed him they wouldn't stick around, either. I can't think of anybody who'd do such a thing, though.

[wizard_redfive]

I can think of a few possiblities... Most of them have gone home though.

[Maybe Pitch? But would the spirit be able to push someone who firmly didn't believe in things he could not see? Probably not.]

[thebestseller]

Yeah... so I'm just going to go on the assumption he tripped.

[wizard_redfive]

If you say so.

[Dairine on the other hand is still suspicious. Maybe one of Conan's enemies arrived and he didn't tell her. It'd be so very like him.]

[thebestseller]

[Castle paused at the clinic entrance.]

And I do. I don't want to consider the alternatives, frankly. Could you get the door, please?

[wizard_redfive]

Sure. [She opens for the door for him. If it makes him feel better to stick to one story, that's his call. She doesn't think he would have pushed Conan at least, so there's no reason to bother him with personal theories.]

[thebestseller]

Thanks. [As soon as Castle was inside, he found Conan whisked out of his arms and away on a gurney to be examined; that task done, he sank into a chair with a sigh.] I'll wait... see how he's doing.

[wizard_redfive]

No problem. [Part of Dairine wants to wait too, worried for Conan's condition. The other wants to check the castle for people wearing black. Just in case. When Castle sits down, she makes up her mind. Too many people would stress out the staff more than necessary.] All right. Let me know if there's any changes, OK?

[She doesn't expect there to be any soon. A coma usually means a week long nap while the resident visits their world. But you never know if things will be different this time.]

[thebestseller]

[Castle nods.]

I'll make a journal announcement if it's anything major. Hopefully he's just got a concussion.