Ow

[hecu_marine]

Thanks to Manny Redondo's work there are a lot more people in the Borealis' infirmary than there usually are after a battle. This is not a good thing in terms of privacy, quiet, or supplies, but given the whole genetic bottleneck thing the planet's currently facing, it's far from the worst possible outcome.

Arnold, the medic from City 17, is just one of the countless overworked Resistance staffers in the infirmary today. How overworked, you ask? Well, this is Arnold. During Gordon Freeman's assault on City 17, Arnold informed his compatriots that 'when all this is over, I'm gonna mate'. Right now, Arnold's pretty sure he'd give up sex or the chance thereof if it got him a little slack. Or if it got one particular patient of his to stop trying to get up and walk around because dammit, bug juice or no, he's just not ready yet.

Please, for the love of God, someone interrupt him.

Comments

[vance_prime]

It's been a long damn week for... well, everyone, really. But Alyx Vance has to be near the top of the Longest Long Damn Week list. And judging by the shouting match she's hearing from the direction of the infirmary, it's about to get even longer.

"What the hell's going on here?"

[hecu_marine]

"Ms. Vance, this asshole-"

"Alyx," Arnold interrupts, a good deal louder than he meant to. "Would you please tell this numskull to listen to a medical professional when he's told that a man who's been unconscious for two days is not in any condition to try to get up and walk?"

Alyx isn't going to understand the response to that unless she's been hanging around with Jan ten Boom.

[vance_prime]

"Shephard." Alyx cuts him off in mid-epithet. "Are we currently under attack? Yes or no."

[hecu_marine]

"Fuck me if I know, ma'am," says Shephard, abruptly switching back to English. "This here pisslicker ain't tellin' me a goddamn thing."

"Because the first thing you did was try to get up, and the second thing you did was try to give me the finger."

[vance_prime]

"You would know if we were under attack, Shephard," says Alyx. "That's what the comms are for. If anything occurs that you need to be out of bed for, you will hear about it. But you haven't, so there isn't, so sit your ass down, soldier."

[hecu_marine]

Open mouth. Cue survival instinct. Close mouth.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Thank you," says Arnold.

[vance_prime]

One hopes at least some of that survival instinct is "obey your commanding officer."

"Good man." Alyx turns to Arnold. "Now, remind me, how long a bed rest did you recommend for him?"

[hecu_marine]

Something to that effect, yeah. Along with 'don't correct her when she calls you a soldier, not a Marine, because it's just not worth it'.

"I don't want him going more than a few meters from this room for the next several days," says Arnold. "He might be good enough to get out of bed and walk around- accompanied by someone else- in a week or so. He took a lot of damage beyond just the one arm."

[vance_prime]

"That's what I thought." To Shephard: "Now, are you going to follow doctor's orders or are we going to have to strap you down to the bed?"

[hecu_marine]

"Depends. Do I have to pretend I like bein' stuck here?"

[vance_prime]

"You don't have to 'pretend' anything. Just try not to disturb the other patients."

[hecu_marine]

"Then I c'n stay here," says Shephard. "Long as someone brings me one of the dogs now'n then so's they don't forget they ain't wild."

[vance_prime]

"I think we can arrange that," says Alyx, her expression softening just a little. "In the meantime..."

She leans back out the infirmary door and makes a beckoning gesture to someone in the hallway. That someone walks in.

Sorry, hovers in.

[hecu_marine]

Shephard raises a hand to-

-well, shit, he meant to wave, but that doesn't work so well, does it. He's just... he's just gonna put that down and wave with the remaining hand instead. "Hey, Skitch," he says.

[vance_prime]

".... . .-.. .-.. --- / ... .... . .--. .... .- .-. -..," the little robot beeps, waving back.

"Skitch is going to be helping out in the infirmary for a while," Alyx explains. "If you need anything brought to you, just ask him."

[hecu_marine]

"Useful," Shephard says, and reaches up to attempt an awkward knuckle-contact with the little guy. "I'mma remember that. Thank you kindly, ma'am."

[vance_prime]

"You're welcome. Now, is that sufficient incentive to actually stay in bed and get better?"

[hecu_marine]

Shephard sighs and leans his head back against the wall. "Sorry, ma'am," he says. "Ain't easy. At all."

[vance_prime]

"Look at it this way, Shephard," says Alyx after a moment's thought. "You're the sole member of the Marine Corps now. You need to set an example for future generations. What kind of example does it set for you to disobey orders and try to go back to field work when you're not capable yet?"

[hecu_marine]

"With all due respect, ma'am, he ain't me," Shephard says. "The longer I got to lie around here starin' at the ceiling, the more likely I'm gon' go fuckin' batshit. That ain't gon' set a good example neither."

[vance_prime]

"I'll get you some things to read," says Alyx. "And maybe a video player, if I can find one. Okay?"

[hecu_marine]

Shephard just pinches the bridge of his nose and lets out a sigh. Eventually he says, "I ain't got a choice, do I."

It's not a question.

[vance_prime]

Alyx just gives him a Look.

[hecu_marine]

"Fine," Shephard finally says. "Fine. I'll do it. Ain't gon' be happy about it, though."

He glances at Skitch and adds, "You better not hang around when I'm goin' to the can, neither."

[vance_prime]

"-... ..- - / .... --- .-- / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / -.-- --- ..- / --. . - / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .--. .- -. - ... / ..- -. -... ..- - - --- -. . -..?"

( But how will you get your pants unbuttoned? )

[hecu_marine]

"Real. Fuckin'. Slow."