House Call

[Makai Dashiell]

[member="Matthew Robinson"]



"Yes, well some of us didn't sleep the day away. The rest of us were out here earning our keep."


Makai was merely joking. Matt would be doctoring up the good people of the village, giving more than plenty back. He was merely an interloper so it made sense to pull his weight and do something productive. Beyond the fact he wanted to pull his weight, Makai was working hard to keep Matt from getting a 'spoiled rich kid' vibe from him.


Plate in hand, he loaded up on the essentials ; fish, chips, various cold salads and cooked greens. Makai was a growing boy after all, with an appetite to match. Matt continued to talk and they were reaching near the end of the line, with Makai snagging a glass of cold tea.


"Grandparents....well, the grandparents on my mothers side. You know, the side with the scales? Galans tend to eat mainly a sea faring diet. I learned how to catch and clean everything at a young age."

 

[Matthew Robinson]

[member="Makai Dashiell"]

Matt was close behind Makai, loading up his own plate. He was starving. "Good skills to have, so I've heard. It'd be a clanger not to."

There were a few groups of seating areas open. Matt saw a few empty seats back near the cooking stations and took one motioning Makai to the open spot. He shoveled some of he food into his mouth.

"Smashing. So, tomorrow morning we'll start clinical visits. I'm going to need your help with..."

There was a scream behind them.

"Sod it." Without hesitating, he was already on his feet, making his way to the small group of people gathered by one of the fryers. Food was left behind.

A younger girl was sobbing and holding her hand. Looked like a bad burn. "I was trying to be careful. Honest ma...," Matt knelt down so he was on the same level as the girl, shrugging off the medbag over his shoulder.

"Makai, can you get a bucket of water?"

 

[Makai Dashiell]

"I can't imagine why you're still single."


Makai of course, had to comment on the shoveling food situation. Grin spread across his own features, not missing the chance to give [member="Matthew Robinson"] a good ribbing at every chance. Hopefully he wouldn't have to break out any anti-choking measures on the young Doc. Yet there was some more important things to do besides annoy the man. Like eat.



He made it halfway through his first piece of fish before the scream occurred. The young half-Galan was slower than Matt but still on heels. Once he reached the commotion,Makai's untrained eyes could tell it was a bad burn. A small internal wince as he was asked to fetch water.


It took a minute to find the well. Another moment to work the pump and draw the water up from the ground. It was ancient, the type one had to work by hand. Motorized it was not. He quickly figured out how to pump fast enough and hurry to Matt.


Water sloshed gently out of the bucket as he rushed back to the group, setting it near the Doc. Swallowing a bit of fear, iced azure gaze looked at the scene.


"How can I help?"

 

[Matthew Robinson]

[member="Makai Dashiell"]

"Great, thanks mate." He kept his eyes on the girl, taking out two herbs from his pack. "Nysilin and woosha ought to do the trick." The girl cringed and hid behind what looked like her great-great grandma's leg.

"Is...is it gun hurt?" She sniffled and clutched her hand tightly.

Matt held out his hand but made no move to force her into anything and in answer to Makai's question. "This'll make it feel a lot better than it is now. My friend Makai, here, is gonna tell you a story. Would you like that?"

Good method of distraction. And it was good for the teen to be put on the spot a bit.

The little girl nodded shyly and came out, holding out her hand for Matt. He eased it in the bucket of water with one hand as he made a paste with the two herbs with the other.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Story? How was he going to tell a story? Makai didn't view himself as a story teller. Seemed more of a grandmother type of thing, not for teenage boys. He shot [member="Matthew Robinson"] a look of displeasure but the Doctor was probably too busy to notice at this point.


"Once there were two brothers. An older, annoying brother and a younger, awesome brother. The older brother always told the cool younger one what to do. Rumor had it the older brother was just jealous. One day the older brother asked too much of the young brother."


"So the younger brother said he'd do the task asked of the older brother under one condition, that the older brother admit the young was totally awesome. Older brother never said anything so its now understood across the land how awesome I...I mean, the little brother, is. Legend says you can still hear the older brother crying late at night on cold, snowy nights."

 

[Matthew Robinson]

[member="Makai Dashiell"]

The little girl's face scrunched up. Matt finished applying the paste and eased back, shooting Makai a mock-glare. "But why was he sad?" The litter girl yelped, lips puffing up into a deep and thoughtful frown.

"IIIIII think that's enough stories for one night," he grinned and shook his head at Makai. "How does that feel?" No matter the quality....or lack of...Makai did the trick and distracted the patient. Matt couldn't ask for more. The little girl's eyes went back to her hand.

"I don't even feel it anymore! Thanks!" She threw her little arms around Matt's neck. He rocked back. "Whoa, there girlie. You'll be just fine. I think that one deserves a hug, too." He hooked a thumb in Makai's direction and tried not to snort as she released him and launched herself at the half-Galan.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

"Sad because he could never be as awesome as the little brother of course."


Wide grin spread on his face as he nudged [member="Matthew Robinson"] with his elbow. Sure his story was missing a certain quality of plot and the like. Makai suspected a child born and raised in the grasslands wouldn't do well with stories about ocean dwelling gods and goddesses. Just as the girl was on the mend, the good Doctor mentioned he needed a hug too.


Obliging, he gave the little girl a hearty hug before releasing her to the care of her grandmother.


"Where is an adoring pack of fangirls when you need them? I mean, way to pull out some thrilling heroics."

 

[Matthew Robinson]

[member="Makai Dashiell"]

"Seriously, mate. They're around when you mess up but not when you do well." He cracked a grin. "Let's go see if there's any food left. I'm starving."

As luck would have it, there was plenty left. One of the rare times Matt actually got to eat on mission - and a good bit. After helping to clean up, he and Makai would return to their tent for the night. Clinics would start in the morning.

All washed up, a small battery-powered light lit up their small hut. Matt opened up his herb back and looked to Makai, going through the items one by one. "So, when I go to a place, there's usually a local healer. I like to connect with them first. If all goes well and I don't get run out of the village by superstitions, I ask them to show me what local herbs they use. It's how I learned about a lot of these, actually."