Infirmary Shift Change: (Day 2 - Morning)

Rebel’s tail thumped as Dorian offered a scratch behind the ear. “Good fella,” the medic whispered soothingly. “How’d he pass tha night?”

“Was good, mostly,” Kate replied in the widow’s heavily accented voice. “Vital signs constant. Slight temperature spike around two AM.”

He nodded, checking the readouts on the wall screen. “Tah be expected. When was his last pain med?”

“I add to IV drip at two thirty.”

“Urine output looks normal,” Dorian nodded as he checked the catheter bag. “Good mornin’ Sistah,” he offered a smile for the nun as she entered the infirmary. “Looks like our good boy had a good evenin’."

The medic seemed in good spirits today, which means his gambit must have paid off. "Good morning Dorian, Yeva,” she said returning a smile, “that’s great news. Turns out you are the hero they wagered; no surprise there.” A mischievous smirk played across her features. Lyen ran her fingers through Rebel’s fur, ending with an affectionate scratch behind his ear. “What does his recovery regimen look like? This will be the first pup I’ve worked with.” She smoothed Reb’s fur before facing the pair.

“One person’s hero is anothah’s buffoon,” he quipped. “Ah claim tha lattah. As fah our friend here, Ah’d like tah start him on soft food tahday. Perhaps Mistah Roose can grind up some meat. Ah’d also like tah get him on his feet.” Adler said. “How is our Mistah Gill?”

“Bored, mostly,” the widow reported. “Serena spent time with heem...help heem on his crutches. He is liking her..I stay out of the way.”

“Ah’m certain they’re appreciative,” the medic observed as he read the boy’s chart.

“Gonna clear him tah do sit down work tahday...foldin’ laundry an’ such. Miss Serena’s lookin’ a bit hollow about tha eyes fah want of help.”

Yeva nodded. “I offer help with refresh rooms before sleep this morning.”

The nun interjected, “I can help as well, so you can get some rest. You’re burning the candle from both ends with your studying alone.” She quoted: “‘Many hands make light work.’”

The widow chuckled, “Good! We make help together. And for Gill..could you take over? She will like better if you are care for him...instead of me.”

“The child is ovahworked, tah be sure. We’ll help where we can...Ah can make a bed and operate a broom as well as tha next buffoon,” he offered a wry smile toward the Sister.
“Rumah has it that our next run will have an even heavier passengah load. Yeva, if you’ve no objections, Ah’d like tah keep yah on tha ovahnight schedule ‘til we put ‘em off.”

“Shiny,” she nodded. “I study for exam-in-ation during quiet times at night.”

“Music tah mah ears. Ah met our expectant mothah last evenin’. She conjures her due date is a week aftah she disembarks, but Ah think she’s about tah burst. Ah convinced her tah come in fah a checkup tahday, Sistah.” He regarded both women. “Yeva, when yah come back on this evenin’, Ah want tah float an idea past yah both. We’ll see yah tahnight.” After Lunar Veil’s medic in training said her goodbyes, Dorian focused his attention on the nun. “We didn’t get tah talk much yestahday,” he offered. “Ah believe Ah suffered fah want of yah counsel.”

Yesterday, in the moment, she may have felt the same--that Dorian’s vigor, or perhaps pride, propelled him to make promises that could have hurt others. But he pulled it off, somehow, and there was a calmness that preceded the day’s excitement which left Lyen with a single lesson: put your faith in Dorian. Had she been the one to make the call, she knew it would have ended differently for Rebel. Adler was, in a way, combating the dukkha, single handedly.

“Yestahday,” he spoke openly, “Ah permitted mah ego tah front load mah judgment. Ah played god,” Adler confessed, “and Ah was more concerned with whether Ah could save this creature’s life than if Ah should.”

Lyen gave Dorian a sideways glance. “No I think you did well. You’re confident in your ability, and if it wasn’t for you those two little boys would be in a much worse state than they are. Today, you’re their ‘buffoon’ in shining armor.” She fixed him with a broad smile. “Considering his recovery, I’m drawn to use the word ‘miraculous.’”

He shook his head. “The boys’ fathah is impoverished...he can barely keep them fed...an’ Ah was about tah dump a weeks’ long recovery and special care on that fasmily fah a workin’ animal that can’t work anymore. He reminded me about tha harshness life on tha rim...and so Ah lied tah them. Ah stole the focus of their grievin’ process, when they shoulda been able tah bury one of their own. Ah delayed those boys healin’.”

She watched him detail the pain and burden he perceived

“Now about this pregnant passenger, would you feel comfortable if I took the lead? I’d value your feedback during, of course. I’ve played midwife on two or three occasions and I’d like your opinion on what I’ve picked up.”

It felt strange and intriguing for Dorian to seek her counsel. In a small way she felt like she was starting to make an impact on the lives of those around her. Like seeds planted in Spring were finally coming to bare.

The medic listened to the nun’s offer, nodding his assent. “Ah’ve delivahed two in tha past. When tha time comes, Ah would like yah tah lead, with Yeva as close assist. Ah’ll monitor. When she comes in tahday,” he continued, “I’ll give her a pelvic exam an’ measure her fah cervical dilation. Yah’ll assist.” Dorian leaned against the counter as he checked the patient roster for the day. “Plenty of dental work tahday,” he said to the nun. “First patient in thirty minutes. Let’s get Rebel moved in with Gill.”

As they relocated their canine patient and cleaned the infirmary, Dorian felt more himself today. Working in concert with Sister Lyen was definitely a tonic. There were lessons to be learned from her, even when she wasn’t speaking. He had only to listen and observe.