Emergency
Caitlyn groaned softly, her eyes cracking open as early light filtered through the window, casting a muted glow across the room. Her back ached. Her neck, a tight knot of discomfort. And as her senses sharpened, she realized her pride was just as bruised.
“Perfect,” she muttered hoarsely, her voice thick with the remnants of restless sleep. “Another night, another terrible life choice.”
She pushed herself up, blinking at the cold hardwood beneath her. Right. She’d ended up on the floor again. Rolling her shoulders, she winced as stiff muscles protested the movement. It took effort, but she finally managed to stand, joints creaking in quiet defiance.
A quick shower cleared some of the fog from her head, though the ache in her body lingered. After brushing her teeth, she shuffled into the kitchen, damp hair clinging to her shoulders. She moved on autopilot: toast, fruit, coffee.
As the rich scent of brewing coffee filled the air, Caitlyn leaned against the island, cradling her mug with both hands. Her legs swung lazily beneath the counter as she skimmed the morning paper, eyes sliding over headlines without interest. The warmth in her hands offered fleeting comfort, and for a moment, she allowed herself to just be.
Then her phone buzzed.
Caitlyn flinched.
Who the hell is calling this early?
She glanced at the screen. Jayce.
Her brows furrowed. It wasn’t even seven yet.
She answered, but before she could speak, his voice blasted through the line.
“Cait, what’s your blood type?!”
She nearly dropped her mug.
“-What?” Her pulse kicked up, her senses snapping to full alert. “Jayce, what the hell is going on?”
He was panicked. More than she’d ever heard him.
“AB negative. Why?”
He exhaled sharply, relief barely masking something darker. “Perfect. Listen, can you get to Piltover General Hospital in the next ten minutes?”
“Ten- Jayce, what’s going on? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine,” he said, his voice faltering. “But… Vander’s daughter—”
“The councilor’s daughter? Which one?” Her mind was already racing, trying to piece things together.
A beat of silence.
Then, quietly: “The older one.”
A sharp burst of noise crackled in the background before the line went dead.
“Jayce?” she snapped, staring at the screen. No response.
Without another thought, Caitlyn bolted for the elevator, slamming her hand against the button. The male attendant looked up in alarm.
“Hurry up,” she barked.
Her thoughts spiraled. Vander had two daughters. Both beloved. Both protected by their parents. If something had happened to either of them, if Jayce was this panicked, then this was serious. Very serious.
The second the elevator doors slid open, Caitlyn darted outside and flagged down the first cab she saw.
“Piltover General. Ten minutes or less,” she ordered, tossing a wad of cash into the tip jar before the driver could even blink.
He didn’t need convincing. The cab screeched into motion.
Inside, Caitlyn’s gaze fixed on the blur of Piltover’s skyline. Her mind, however, was a whirlpool of questions. Vander and Silco weren’t just influential. They were Zaun. Politics, commerce, enforcement, shadows, they ran it all. Their family was untouchable.
So what the hell went wrong?
Eight minutes later, she threw more cash at the driver, not waiting for change. The cab door slammed shut behind her as she stormed into the hospital, boots clicking on polished floors, her pulse a thunderous beat.
She called Jayce.
He picked up immediately. “Cait? Where are you?”
“Just pulled up. Where the hell are you?”
“Emergency department. First floor.”
She hung up and moved like a blade through the hallways, cutting past patients, nurses, anyone in her path.
Within two minutes, she spotted him. Jayce, pacing like a caged animal, hand at his chin, jaw clenched tight.
And behind him… Caitlyn stopped cold.
A small girl with bright blue hair. Wide, terrified eyes. Standing beside a tall man whose expression was thunder, barely contained rage radiating off him.
Enforcers lined the walls like statues. The air was thick. Suffocating.
“Jayce!” Caitlyn called, slicing through the tension.
He spun around. Relief flashed across his face. In three long strides, he was at her side, gripping her shoulders with unexpected force.
“Cait,” he breathed. “Thank the gods, you’re here.”
“What’s going on?” Her gaze flicked to the blue-haired girl. “Why’d you need my blood type?”
Before Jayce could answer, the girl spoke.
“It’s my sister,” she said quickly. “She was in an accident. Bad. And they’re out of AB negative.”
The girl’s eyes shimmered with panic, like she was holding her breath, waiting for something to make it all okay.
Jayce turned. “This is Powder. Powder, this is Caitlyn.”
Caitlyn gave a small nod, her gaze softening. “I’m sorry. Is she…?”
She couldn’t finish the question.
Before Powder could answer, a voice thundered from the hallway, sharp and furious:
“How in the hell does a hospital like this run out of AB negative?!”
Caitlyn’s head snapped toward the sound. A tall man stormed toward a group of doctors, his words laced with venom.
“You have my daughter in there! My daughter! And this is the best you can offer?!”
“Silco!” Powder’s voice cracked, urgent. “Dad, stop it!”
Caitlyn’s blood ran cold.
Silco Wickford.
No wonder the staff looked like they were bracing for war. Silco wasn’t just feared, he was fear.
Jayce leaned in, his voice low. “I know this is a lot to ask, but—”
“You don’t have to ask,” Caitlyn cut him off, stepping forward. “Take my blood.”
Powder’s eyes went wide. Her breath caught.
“Really? You’d do that?”
Caitlyn gave her a small, reassuring smile. “Of course.”
Before she could say more, Powder flung herself at her, wrapping her arms around Caitlyn in a desperate, grateful hug.
“You’re the best, Caitlyn!”
Jayce let out a breath. Half laugh, half exhale as tension bled from his frame. He turned to one of the enforcers nearby. “She’s ready. Get the doctor.”
The enforcer took off without a word.
Powder’s smile was fragile, trembling with fear and hope, but it was something. A spark.
“Thank you,” she murmured. “I mean it. I don’t know what we’d do without you.”
Caitlyn nodded. “She’s going to be okay.”
And for the first time that morning, Caitlyn saw it in Powder’s eyes. Belief.
And somehow, that made her believe it too.