“I know,” Val whispered, maintaining the blanket’s position and wrapping his arms around the smaller form to keep him still.  Charlie was so weak that it wasn’t exactly a difficult task.  “It probably will for a bit, but you have to be warmed.”  Unfortunately, all the signs pointed to needing more medical care than he could provide, so by the time Bernard returned with that warm soup, Val had another request to make.<br/><br/>“Call Lawson,” he murmured.  “Tell him what to be prepared for.  Frostbite and hypothermia… severe malnutrition on top of it.”  He cast an irritated look toward his butler then.  “And yes, I’m well aware of the hour and the road conditions.  He’ll make the damned trip.  Just tell him it’s important.”<br/><br/>Bernard nodded and obediently wandered off to make the call, leaving Val and his frozen companion there by the fire alone.  The soup was left there next to them, but he wasn’t sure that Charlie would be up for it just yet.  He had to wonder how long the smaller man had been left out in the elements, how long he’d been resting there, seemingly waiting for death.  It was all because of some lousy city official, some business there near the corner, or maybe just another group of punk kids like the first time.  It often puzzled him, that sort of disrespect for another human that most had.  It was as if the lot of them held no value for the life of their brothers and sisters.  Val, of course, didn’t equate himself with humans or humanity, but there were times where he felt he was the one who displayed more redeeming qualities than most of them.<br/><br/>“You have to do as I say, Charlie.  Do you understand?” he asked, keeping his voice low in the quiet of the room, the only other sound the gentle crackling of the fire.  “I’m going to see to it that you get better, but you have to trust me… just a little.”