Atlanta - The Dangers of the Job

[Florian Raniari]

Sastre stared at the ceiling, blinking.

The room seemed to be slowly spinning around him, just as surely as his scattered thoughts were spinning around within his mind. He couldn't seem to focus on any one particular thought, and memories of the past several days began to flicker and merge for him, creating a confusing description of events.

He remembered Scherez, and the explosion... And he remembered dragging himself from the burning house... The next thing that he remembered was Madison, calling out instructions as she took charge of the E.R... But there were other memories too, hazy and indistinct: he remembered floating, and speaking with people, both strangers and old friends... He remembered a dark shadow, one that had sought to consume him...

Madison's voice, asking him his name, cut through the confusion.

"Florian," he answered shakily, coughing a bit. Suddenly his brow furrowed in shock, and his body seemed to go tense. Shaking his head, he quickly changed his answer. "Sastre... My name is Sastre Quicksilver..." He looked over at Madison, realizing that he'd slipped when asked for his name. The expression he flashed her seemed to be one that warned against any questions about who "Florian" was.

Sitting up higher and swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Sastre attempted to stand up.

"I want to leave, Madison. Get me out of here..." He seemed to notice Remy for the first time, and he narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the stranger. Mentally, he told himself to relax, for he knew that Madison wouldn't have brought anyone here if she didn't trust him implicitly. "Please, get me out of here..."

[madison]

I can hear the devil call my name
Hopeless, I’m falling down
Filthy, I can’t wake up
I cannot hold on, I will not let go
Worthless, it’s over now
Guilty, there’s no way out

When Sastre had answered that his name was Florian, Madison’s brow furrowed a slight frown tugging at her lips. At first she thought the trauma to his head had been worse than she originally thought. Then he quickly corrected himself and she sighed a bit. Her gaze went from worried to confused, but for now she wouldn’t push it. She was just glad that Sastre was awake.

Then all those happy feelings went away when he tried to get out of bed, practically begging Madison to get him out of the hospital. She tilted her head giving him a reassuring smile. “I know you’re anxious to get out of here, but I need to wait just a little while longer all right?”

Madison seemed to be surrounded by people that hated the hospital. She understood, really she did, but at the same point this is where she tried to help people get better. No one wants to stay in this place, but sometimes their body needs it whether they like it or not. Sastre seemed to be doing a lot better. Where would he go though? Madison knew he didn’t have a home. He traveled too much.

If anything Madison could bring her home with him until his body was recovered enough for Sastre to be on his way. Of course if she did that, it ran the risk of Sastre learning her secret. Steve wasn’t opposed to midnight visits when he knew Madison was home. If he found out Madison had another man staying with her he would not be pleased. It wouldn’t matter that Sastre was a friend, and probably old enough to be her father. Steve would see him as a threat and take that out on Madison.

What choice did she have though? Madison couldn’t very well just let him go back to hunting in his condition, even though she knew that’s exactly what Sastre would argue for. Madison had the sudden urge to stomp her foot to keep her thoughts on track. She didn’t even know if Sastre could leave yet.

Madison looked at Remy. It had been his remedy that had helped Sastre most. She trusted his word. “Do you think he’s well enough to leave?”

[remy]

Well, talk about a grateful customer, Remy thought with an inner sigh. If looks could kill, that little eyeball-message was definitely enough to stab him in the face. What, did the guy not like strangers helping out? It wasn’t like he hadn’t just turned down a very nice looking blond to help out a friend of a friend. Dieu, how ungrateful! How disrespectful!

…How nice that the guy so obviously hated hospitals as much as he did. Okay, he was forgiven; he wanted to get out of the bad place as much as he did. Hooray; if the patient left, he could get back to the bar before sunup. Win-win!

Crossing his arms over his chest, the hunter eyed Sastre from where he stood by the window. A thoughtful expression was on his face as he eavesdropped on the conversation between patient and doctor, and when a certain name was said, he mentally stored it away. The poor guy…of course he would be unhappy to see unfamiliar faces with a name like ‘Florian.’ His parents must have really not wanted children at some point—

And damn, he was being mentally catty with a patient. Very mature, Remy, he told himself with a little roll of his eyes. As if his name was any better…then again, he was luckier than half of his siblings. His little sister Baby Ruth was still getting picked on by the other kids, and that wasn’t even counting his brother Almond Joy…

”Eh?” Blinking as Madison’s voice called him back to the present, he turned to face the two. Steeling his spine against a confrontation with the would-be coma guy, the healer forgot the previous squinty-eyed look he’d received and reached forward to take a radial pulse.
”Mmm…your heart rate seems alright, and your color is better…” He leaned forward, squinting at Sastre’s eyes. ”And if you’re well enough to give me a glare, mon ami, I think you will live to get hurt another day. Though, hopefully you’ll just live.”

Ah, he did so love it when a remedy worked its magic. Straightening, he gave Madison a brisk nod before going to rummage in his case again. ”I would say get him out of this ugly place before the bad magic get at him, but that just be me. I will give you both a week’s supply of my remedies, just in case he has a relapse. They both gotta be taken with food and orally…eh, maybe I throw in some of the salve as well. You will be stiff as a board tomorrow without it.”

He measured out the correct ingredients, storing them in little vials and packages. In a matter of minutes, the room began to smell of his beloved bayou, and the healer couldn’t help but smile. Much better, he thought. The smell of antiseptic was about to drive him batty!

[/blockquote]

[Florian Raniari]

Sastre could have strangled himself, he was so upset with his slip-up. He knew that, though Madison had respected his wishes and kept quiet about it for the time being, she would most certainly ask him about it later. It was her nature. She was curious. The strange man had noticed the slip as well, and that actually made Sastre more uncomfortable than Madison knowing. She was a friend, at least, and though this man had quite probably saved his life, Sastre still didn't like the fact that a stranger now had access to this true name.

Damn...

Still, as the man continued to speak, Sastre found himself becoming lulled into calmness at the sound of his familiar, soft french accent. It reminded him of home... He shook his head, ridding it of such thoughts. It seemed like his brush with death had made him uncharacteristically nostalgic. He had to get a grip back on the here and now...

"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I don't mean to be rude, or offensive, I just don't trust many people, that's all. It seems I'm as much in your debt as I am in Madison's..." He smirked a bit at the man's comment about getting hurt another day, wincing as the burns and bruises on his face protested. Holding out his left hand--for his right arm was broken and in a full cast--Sastre said, in french, "I'd have the name of the man who saved my life, if he's willing to give it."

[remy]

There was just something so...comforting about measuring out salves into vials, and powders into solution. Perhaps it was the knowledge that he was helping this poor guy in the hospital johnny get well? Or the fact that he'd done his good deed for the YEAR, in leaving that leggy blond to help a friend? Either way, Remy felt all of the tenseness leave him, as he prepared the remedies for the man on the bed.

Bah, doctors and their medicines; they knew nothing when it came to healing. One could heal the body, sure, but the soul? The mind? Only the person in question could do that...and, with the soothing smells of the ancient potions he was making, embued with the essence of the healers and medicine women that came before him? Sastre was sure to get well soon!

At least, that's what his pride told him. Pride goeth before the fall...hell, forget that; it was what kept him going half the time.

"Pah," The Cajun waved a hand in Sastre's direction as the man apologized, not looking away from his remedies. "You don't got nothing to apologize for, mon ami. You just get well, eh? Get well, and spread around the wonder that is my remedies, and we are good. Hey, at least you didn't throw up on my shoes like my last patient had. Woo-wee, talk about some badness in him; but my potions, they cleaned him right out."

Sealing up the vials with a bit of wax, Remy finally moved back to the bed, placing them on the table next to him. A grin came to his lips at the familiar words, and he answered in Cajun French. "My name is Remy Bellafontaine, my friend, and I can already tell that your life was worth saving. Now, no more emotional stuff before you make the lady cry."

Giving Sastre's hand a firm shake, he took a step back and cleaned up his wares. He switched back to English, turning to Madison. "We take him out of this awful place now, eh? Before that bad funk go get into his soul and knock against my remedies."

[/blockquote]

[madison]

I can hear the devil call my name
Hopeless, I’m falling down
Filthy, I can’t wake up
I cannot hold on, I will not let go
Worthless, it’s over now
Guilty, there’s no way out

Madison stayed quiet letting the two talk. Sastre didn’t seem to be angry about Madison bringing in Remy. She breathed a sigh of relief at that. The last thing she wanted to do was upset him. As a doctor, but more importantly his friend, she felt it was her responsibility to take care of him when he came to her in an injured state. For whatever reason, regular medicine wasn’t doing the trick, but one of Remy’s potions had.

What exactly Remy had done, what he had made, Madison didn’t know. She knew his concoctions worked first hand though. At least for bruises and apparently for waking people up after their heart stops for no reason. She knew that medical science didn’t have the answer to everything and that most people hated hospitals, but she wanted to help people. She was beginning to think that maybe the hospital wasn’t the best place to do that anymore.

When Remy mentioned Madison crying, she gave him a flat look. There wasn’t time to cry right now, and even if there was it was more important to do what was best for Sastre at the moment. Both Remy and Sastre seemed to think it was a good idea for the hunter to leave the hospital. It worried Madison a bit that something else would happen to Sastre if they left, but she was a doctor. It wouldn’t be the first time she helped someone that wasn’t in a hospital bed.
Finally she nodded. “Let me get the discharge papers. I’ll be right back.”

Madison hurried from the room, going behind the nurses station and drawing up the papers. As far as anyone knew Sastre was Keith Reagan. Madison had known he wouldn’t have wanted his real name on any papers, but now she wasn’t even so sure that was his real name. When she had asked him his name before, Sastre had answered Florian before quickly changing it. Maybe it was someone he had been dreaming about and he had momentarily been confused.

Even Madison didn’t buy that excuse. Sastre was a very secretive person. She figured few, if any knew his real name. It had been a slip of the tongue it seemed. Madison wasn’t sure if she’d ask him about it later. She respected people’s privacy. She had her own secrets she didn’t want anyone knowing about. It wasn’t fair to ask Sastre to share his.

After a bit of an argument with Dr. Tom Weatherly, Madison finally had the papers in hand. He promised she’d be hearing from the board and the ethics committee. Just great.

Shaking her head she took the forms and went back into the room handing the clipboard to Sastre. “Sign these as Keith Reagan and we can get you out of here. You’re staying at my place for a couple of days though.” Knowing he was going to protest Madison held up a hand. “This is not negotiable Sastre. You sign the papers, you get in my car and you stay in my guest room until you’re well enough to leave. Otherwise, I bring in a dozen orderlies and have them strap you down to the bed. Got it?” She gave him a challenging look.

[Florian Raniari]

Of course Sastre's first thought was to refuse.

But as he prepared his argument, his vision blurred and he felt as if he was going to pass out. His body felt like it was on fire, and he felt week as a day-old kitten. There was no way he could walk out of there on his own, which meant there was no way he could survive any amount of time out on the streets either.

As much as he hated to inconvenience Madison, Sastre saw no other choice.

Taking the clipboard with his shaking left hand, the injured hunter set it carefully on his lap, removing the pen and quickly signing the necessary documents with his newest false name. When he was finally finished, Sastre let out a deep sigh, shaking his head as his body pulsed with various aches and pains.

He remained sitting on the edge of the bed after handing the clipboard back to Madison, knowing that there wasn't enough strength in his legs to support him. He felt helpless, and he hated himself for it.

Hanging his head, Sastre spoke softly.

"Madison, please... Get me out of here."

[madison]

I can hear the devil call my name
Hopeless, I’m falling down
Filthy, I can’t wake up
I cannot hold on, I will not let go
Worthless, it’s over now
Guilty, there’s no way out


Madison took the clipboard back from Sastre and sighed softly when he pleaded for her to get him out of the hospital. She could see he was still in a lot of pain by his stiff movements and shaky hands. It was to be expected, but she still hated to see what it was doing to him. She knew he was a prideful man, strong, and probably had more fear than he showed. Being injured wasn’t easy for a man like Sastre, and she could hear the resignation in his voice. He wasn’t happy, but he was going to do it.

“All right, Sastre,” She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “We’ll go. Let me just turn these papers in and get something for you to wear.”

After returning the papers to the nurses desk, Madison went back to the locker room and got a fresh pair of scrubs for Sastre. Most of his clothes had been cut off and she highly doubted that he wanted to walk out of the hospital in a gown and robe. After grabbing an empty wheelchair, Madison rushed back to the room.

Without a word she began to help Sastre dress, knowing that he was in no condition to do it himself. If Madison had asked, she figured it would have been another battle of wills. It was simpler just to do it. Madison was as gentle as she could be, but she knew that even the smallest of movements was going to leave Sastre sore. When she was done she and Remy eased him into the wheelchair.

They all quickly headed for the exits, none of them wanting to be there, but all for different reasons. Once they made it to Madison’s car, and had Sastre securely in the passenger seat, Madison turned towards Remy and threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Thank you Remy,” She said as she hugged him. “If there’s anything I can do for you…please let me know?”

Madison was truly thankful for whatever it was that he had done. Remy had very possibly saved Sastre’s life. He had done a far better job than she had it seemed, and she was grateful that if she couldn’t help Sastre, than someone else could.

[remy]

“Ah, the sound of a forceful woman,” The Cajun drawled, giving Sastre a teasing wink. “You be careful now, mon ami. It is very easy to fall in love with this girl. Do as she says or she might break your heart.” Another grin was thrown in Madison’s direction as he finished packing up his things and moved away from the two.

Ah, there was his good deed for the year, all taken care of. Maybe, if he high tailed it, he could see if that beautiful blond was still pouting in the corner of the bar, where he’d left her. Feh, and even if she wasn’t, he was sure that there would be another beautiful woman waiting for his attentions.

So many ladies, so little time. It almost made a man wish for more hours in the night.

Remy made a face when he got a good look at those hospital johnny’s that the poor patient was in, and did as he was told; helping Sastre into an awaiting wheelchair. Walking with them, in his casual and lazy way, he openly flirted with the nurses, until they finally made it outside.

Taking a deep breath of the night air, he grinned at the both of them. “Ah, much better. NOW you will get better, eh?” Giving Sastre a friendly pat on the shoulder, he turned to embrace Madison, smile widening at the little kiss. Dramatically, he gave her a return smooch on the lips, then took a step back.

“You just take care of yourself, cher, and that will be enough for me. Call if you need anymore of my remedies, eh? I always have a box put away for you,” His eyes turned a bit more intense as he looked down at her, some of the natural amusement fading from his face. Leaning forward, he kept his voice low. “And call me, whenever you need me, mon cherie. Especially when you think you want to get rid of whatever is giving you those bruises.”

That said, he straightened, face once again a mask of happiness. Giving the hunter a wave, and one more hug for Madison, he turned to saunter over to his car. “Au voir, my friends! May we meet again soon…and over drinks!”

[/blockquote]

[madison]

I can hear the devil call my name
Hopeless, I’m falling down
Filthy, I can’t wake up
I cannot hold on, I will not let go
Worthless, it’s over now
Guilty, there’s no way out

When Remy walked away, Madison stood there for a moment watching him go. She had tensed considerably when he hugged her, not because she was frightened of him, but because the hug pressed on her bruises and she had to bite down on her lip to keep from yelling out. His words hung heavily in her chest. Madison wished she could tell someone, but she couldn’t. She had mistake that mistake once before. She wouldn’t let someone else’s life get ruined by trying to protect her. Right now she was doing all she could to make up for that mistake.

Madison did her best to hide what was happening. Though it was pretty damned hard sometimes. If people looked too closely they would see through the makeup and fake smiles though. They would notice her stiff movements and how she would flinch when someone’s hand came near her face on instinct alone. The only time any none of that mattered was when someone was hurt. Then her doctor instincts kicked in.
Walking around the car Madison eased into the driver’s seat, cringing a bit as the muscles on the side of her abdomen shifted and bent as she went from a standing to sitting position. Even still she smiled at Sastre. “Shall we go home?”

Starting the car she pulled out of the hospitals parking garage and began heading home. Madison was taking a big risk bringing Sastre home with her. If Steve found out that another man was staying with her he’d be livid. It didn’t matter that Sastre was only her friend, and quite possibly old enough to be her father. Steve would accuse her of being a whore at the very least. She knew his fists would hit harder, his legs kick faster.

Madison navigated the streets in silence, knowing that none of that mattered. She couldn’t very well send Sastre back onto the streets. Not in his condition. If he wouldn’t stay at the hospital she would oversee his care from home. Madison had the next two days off and if need be she would use some her vacation time. As for Steve, well she would just have to juggle the situation carefully. Make sure the two didn’t run into each other, and make sure Steve didn’t know anyone was staying with her. Somehow….

When they pulled up to her home, Madison quickly ran around and helped Sastre inside. She eased him onto the couch and looked around before offering him a smile. “It’s not much. I’d give you the grand tour, but I don’t want you moving around much just yet.”

Sighing she sat down on the edge of the couch, careful not to hurt Sastre, and removed her shoes, letting the coolness of the wood floor soak into her feet. Realizing that probably wouldn’t be good for Sastre, she got up and went over to the fireplace.

“The bathroom is down the hall on the right. You’re bedroom is the next door after that.” She grabbed a bundle of wood, wincing a bit as she bent to pick it up and started stacking it in the fireplace. “If you don’t want to stay in the scrubs I have some clothes that should probably fit you comfortably.” She threw some kindling on the fire and lit it up, rubbing her hands in front of it as it took the chill out of the air before looking back at Sastre with a smile. “That’s better right?”