Darrell was stunned and shocked.

"Wh-what!?" he exclaimed.

"Wait..." he said.

"I know that's serious..." he said.

"But... what IS that?" he asked her.

Desiree proceeded to explain what it was... and Darrell's heart sank.

"...I don't want to lose Jordan..." he told her quietly.

Darrell was silent for a moment, before shaking his head.

"I..."[/b he stammered.

[b]"I don't..." he started to say, but couldn't finish.

His face said it all, his trembling lips, his watery eyes.

He couldn't stay. He couldn't go back to class.

He wanted to be with his parents.

He wanted to cry his eyes out while being with them.

He was silent as he accepted the mug.

"...thank you." he said.

"And... no. She's not." he told her.

"Well... I mean... she's..." he then stammered, before sighing heavily.

"Rene's been called to the hospital to help." he continued.

He then paused for another moment, before looking at Kalin, meeting her eyes.

"Jordan has diphtheria."

Jaden nodded in response.

"I know." he replied.

"Just... I know..." he said.

"I'm still worried." he admitted.

"My little girl is suffering, and there's nothing I can do about it." he sighed.

"...sorry." he apologised.

"I'm a worrier." he chuckled lightly.

"I don't think I'll be doing many shows until she's out of the hospital." he then added.

"I hope you understand."

"I will." Jaden replied.

"I'll make sure Rene knows he has the authority to update you as well." he then said.

"Just so you can hear it potentially sooner." he reasoned.

He was then silent, and shook his head, looking into the mug she'd given him.

"...I never would have thought something like this could happen." he admitted.

"I can't help but think that there was something I could do to prevent this." he went on.

"We took all the precautions. Why is THIS virus so special...?"

"....I don't know." Jaden replied.

"Although knowing that you're here as a friend is already a massive help." he told her.

"Our support network is second to none." he chuckled further.

"So thank you." he said.

"It means a lot to me and my family." he assured her.

"If it's all right, can you be on call to babysit Darrell, in case Desiree and I need to be off quickly in case of an emergency?" he then asked.

Jaden just smiled at that.

"I like the thought of that." he said.

"Darrell always did like Serenity." he told her.

He then paused for a moment, taking another drink from his mug.

"...I wonder if he's ever met Syraene, though." he mused.

"Which is to say, he's never met her... in PERSON..." he went on.

"Makes me wonder if she's visited him... well, in other ways." he added.

"Same." Jaden replied.

"Not that I care so much as to dig into it and ask, I just wonder." he shrugged.

"Regardless, thanks for being so understanding." he went on.

"I... should probably tell Mom and Dad about this." he continued.

He then took out his phone and sent Sydney a text.

Mom, you busy atm? it read.

"Uh... yeah." Jaden replied, looking at the text.

"She JUST got back to me..." he muttered.

We need to talk. Like, an hour ago. he sent to her.

It's about Jordan. he then sent further.

Where are we meeting? I'm currently with Kalin. he added.

"Guess she was out on a hunt or something." he then said.

I'll be there in a moment. Jaden sent back.

"...." Nico was silent as he heard that.

"I don't like the sound of that." he muttered.

Meanwhile, Jaden had said goodbye to Kalin, and disappeared from her place, appearing at the front door of Sydney's house, knocking on the door.

"That'd be him." Nico said.

"Door's open!" he called out.

Jaden then stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. He made his way to where he'd heard the voice, and paused when he saw them.

"...wow." he mumbled.

"Mom, you look... rough." he commented to Sydney.