redjacketthief | Appointments

...

No, go ahead.

[He rationally knew that this, inherently, was the cause of many of his problems in recent months. Allowing any kind of outside assistance was hard for him after so many years of going through the tough spots alone. It was an unhealthy mindset, he knew, and he had made steps to rectify that.

They didn't amount to much, but they were something.]

Keep asking. It might help later. [He waved his hand in a show of impatience.] Just take better care of yourself for a while, okay?

[Spock raised an eyebrow at that response... Lupin was an incredibly illogical creature who took care of others while not maintaining personal health.

To borrow a human term... 'idiot'. But that did not change the fact that he was rather fond of him.

Spock moves into the shower and closes the curtain over slightly... the hot water is most satisfying. The dirt and blood that is washed from his body creates rivulets of morbid streams that lead down the drain...
Spock leans his head on the shower wall, allowing for a moment to revel in the heat.

When his level of cleanliness is sufficient, Spock wraps a towel around his waist and gently steps out of the shower.... there seems to be an odd stinging sensation. Now that he is clean, the pain receptors must be flaring...

Spock holds his hand out for Lupin to take..]

[It was becoming a game of guessing who was taking care of whom, Lupin realized when he accepted the hand. Though he could have, and would have, managed to stand on his own had aid not been offered, he realized that this was something they both needed.

In a strange way, they both needed someone to look after.]

You're looking better.

[The green-ish bruising on Spock's torso was clearer after the muck had been removed, and the sight of it set his mind at ease when he saw no further damage. The lacerations still bothered him, but the materials he needed were within his reach.

He could deal with this.]

[Spock was going to make a flippant remark at that statement... but he did not have it in him at that moment. He was...tired.

Spock sat down on the toilet seat cover and looked at Lupin...]

Would you rather I do this part?

[There would be plenty of time for witty banter later.]

We both can, since the shoulder will be hard for you to reach properly. [He pulled down his skeletal first aid kit as he spoke.] Dunno if we'll need stitches for you and, frankly, I don't have the supplies or much skill at it. Emergency patch-ups I can do...but I'm no expert.

[The box was passed off after he found the tube of gel.]

I'm also going to want your help cleaning up any mess. Somehow I doubt that peroxide will work on cleaning these bloodstains.

Stitches are not advised.

[Spock took the box when it was handed to him and took out the patches and gauze.]

Of course... do you have any sodium hypochlorite? That should effectively deal with the stains.

[Spock holds out his arm for what he assumes to be the antibacterial gel...]

No~ But I can get it. I think.

[Chemistry wasn't his trade, but he worked through what the possible compound could be as he gently squeezed the gel out onto the wound. Regular table salt was NaCl...sodium chloride. Sodium hypochlorite, by grace of Latin, would be Sodium combined with a chloride that had some atoms removed...

right?]

No stitches. Right. [He covered the injury with a cotton pad and wrapped the gauze around the arm in a snug fit. Tape could be used later, if it was necessary.] You're going to need to walk me through if this is beyond normal then. We still need to get you in for a physical, and there's only so much that Nala can help with before the body has to take care of the rest.

[Spock takes a moment to be amused by Lupin's obvious wondering... Should Spock just say that it was common 'household' bleach? He was rather disinclined to inform Lupin of this...
Spock nods in appreciation...]

Indeed, a physical would be logical... but what you are doing... it is more than enough.

[Spock hesitates for a moment...thinking back when Arsene allowed him to share his bed... to ask for this is a sign of weakness...]

[Spock ignores his thoughts for a moment and stands to present the back of his leg...]

[He would find it funny and laugh it off. He never found much reason to delve into the molecular aspects of chemistry, and never bothered to go deeper than what he needed to know for a job. Bleach was simply bleach and, aside from being handy for compromising a crime scene, threatened to turn his sharp red jacket into a pale pink.

The risk wasn't worth it.]

It's just some basic bandaging...

[He was distracted by the lacerations on the leg. A frown furrowed his eyebrows as he studied this wound before setting to work.]

How long have you had these? And how were you able to get out of there so quickly like this?

[Spock stiffened at that question...

What would Lupin say if he knew that he abandoned everyone when he could have been of further use?
Spock's voice is forced...]

I have had them for approximately 2.4 days... An escape presented itself, so I took advantage of it.

[No judgement--ever. He hated that when people did that to him.]

'The needs of the one outweigh...'

[He trailed off when he realized what he was mumbling. That was information he did not want Spock to know right yet.]

You're an academic mostly, right? Not trained for battles on this scale. That...must have been tough.

[Another round of antibiotics.]

With all of that mud I'm surprised that these aren't infected.]

[Spock glanced back at Lupin when he was 'muttering'... curious.

However, his shoulders drooped in defeat...]

I was afraid... these creatures were surrounding me and I... ran. That is why I got here so quickly.
I am a trained starfleet officer... I am quite able to handle myself in any military or hostile situation.. [Spock closed his eyes... he is worried about the people he left behind... ]

I am Vulcan... as long as I was not stationary for long an infection would not have taken place.

[He applied the pad and started wrapping the gauze around to hold it in place, idly remembering his one and only mission for the Malnosso. They were on a ship at sea...and he never believed that creatures of that magnitude even existed before that trip]

Starfleet officer or not, this isn't a ship battle. Things exist here that are hard to imagine anywhere else, so you're just relatively untested.

...and you did only just recover yourself. Don't think too hard on it.

[Because, while he was worried, he wouldn't place any blame on Spock or anyone else.]

[Spock reluctantly nods... this was a difficult thing to accept, his Vulcan pride did not want to allow for it.

But his human side was scared and only wanted to come home....]

I...appreciate your efforts in attempting to 'cheer me up'... And I must admit that your reasoning merits some logic.

[When Lupin finishes with his leg... Spock sits once more and presents him with his shoulder...]

Might I be able to borrow that robe once more for sleeping? [Spock, following Lupin's warning, does not intend to go into a healing trance for the time being. Because he was right, it was too risky...]

The yukata? sure~

[He repeated the process on the shoulder, and realized there that he would need the tape instead of the gauze. With the location of the lacerations, Spock was damn lucky that his wing didn't get clipped--that was automatically a week of recovery, at least, and a lot of pain...]

I'm just trying to use your own methods here, Spock. I'm pretty rational too, you know. [An amused huff. This really was almost like consoling a younger brother, if the movies bore any merit]

[Spock's lips twitch in amusement at that statement... if he were fully human he may have laughed out loud.

And Spock may have shared Lupin's view of a brotherly relationship... but he does not fully understand what that entails. Then again, he may be over thinking it.]

Spock stands when all is done and helps to pack things away....]

Do you plan to go back to sleep at this time?

[Lupin held a hand against his head and took a moment to breathe before he joined Spock in finishing up.]

Sleep is a nice thing, but I have nothing to do tomorrow unless Wilhelmina makes a racket again.

[He offered a small smile but didn't elaborate on his suspicions. Soldiers fought better when their moral was high, and they recovered better in similar conditions. He would stay awake if he was needed.]

[Spock's eyebrows twitch in confusion at the mention of a strange name...]

Who is Wilhelmina?

Sssshhhh!

[He held his finger to his lips in an exaggerated gesture.]

Not too loud~

She's my squid. You've seen her. She's....been possessed by a ghost for the last few days, and has been acting like a puppy with ADHD.

[Spock continues to give Lupin a confused look... but eventually nods in understand... he will assume Arsene knows what he is talking about.

He then looks down and shuffles a bit... mumbling something under his breath... something about 'amenable'...and sleeping...]

[He caught that utterance and clicked off the light in the bathroom before he joined Spock.]

Yeah, you can sleep. Let's get you that yukata...

[Lupin led Spock into his room to wait while he pawed through his closet for that yukata. The incident with Adele a little more than a week before left his closet in a completely disorganized mess. Despite the quietness of the village in the wake of the draft, Lupin hadn't made the time to manage the clutter.]

[Spock looks around him with some interest... the disorganization reminded him of Kirk's quarters on the Enterprise... illogical.

Fascinating... the ribbon was still balled in his fist.]

A ha~

[The yukata was found in undamaged condition, much to Lupin's surprise. Adele had washed everything in his closet with an obnoxiously fruity scented detergent, but he had enough care and respect for the delcate structure of the traditionally styled piece. It still had a floral scent clinging to the fibers, but it was more reminiscent of perfume... Lupin hadn't yet noticed that the ribbon was still in Spock's possession. It had been an unimportant detail in the mess of green.

Lupin turned and held the yukata out for Spock.]

Here. We'll find you some blankets too, so you can be more comfortable after...that.

[Spock took the Yukata in hand and put it on... he noticed the strange perfume, but did not comment on it....after it was secured he removed the towel, folded it, and placed it on top of a questionable heap on the floor.]

Sa-kai... despite all that you have done for me this morning, I have one more favour to ask of you...

[He was wide awake now, despite the hour. The adrenaline that steadily worked its way through his veins kept his focus sharp and his mind clear as the impulses for crisis aversion set in. He couldn't tell whether it was simply a remnant from Spock's entry, his need to stay focused where Spock could not, or a sympathetic response to everything that the draft had dealt...

He took a deep breath. His gaze flicked down at Spock's balled up fist before meeting his eyes.]

What else do you need?

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