Work Text:
Lexa's POV
"You are an idiot" She scolds as she helps me walk up the rest of the stairs.
"Please. Not right now O, trust me I'm very aware." I whine as we turn the corner. But hey... I have a pretty good reason.
The splinters seemed to have lodged themselves into my leg and arm by the thousands. Okay maybe not the thousands but go my god it feels like it. I want to say I knew this was going to happen, but that's not the truth. When I signed up to be a camp counselor for the summer I thought, hey this is a good way to get community service hours for my degree... but I never thought I'd actually grow to love it. I would die for my kiddos, I think Ive proved that today. I was deep into the end zone when Lincoln threw the winning pass, he overthrew, but I knew I could catch it if I ran hard enough. I would have dove into fire to help win that game, for the glory, for the pizza party my team would get. A lot was on the line. Camp, I have found, may or may not bring out a competitive side of me. Maybe I shouldn't have dove onto the bridge for the tie breaking catch? Or maybe I just shouldn’t have been wearing shorts when I did so. Hence my current situation. The second after I caught it, the joy was short lived.
"Lexa you don't look to good..." Our team captain's smile faded.
That when I felt the nausea, oh god, I basically peeled myself. The wood took my skin right off. "Madi, hey why dont you grab Octavis for me?" I tried to smile. Oh god.
That's who helps support my side as we approach the doctors quarters now.
“I can take it from here. Thanks O.”
She frowns, “are you sure? Are you actually even going to go in there if I’m not here to make you?”
Okay so I left out the part where I refused to go to medical and Lincoln had to threaten to carry me... I eye the door with the stupid red cross painted on the front... “YES I promise. Now go. Have fun. Don’t let those idiots on our team play any longer without at least one of us. I want that pizza party O!”
We stop at the door of the office. “Anyone every tell you you're just a big kid?.”
I shove her with my good arm, "No. Now go Im fine."
She walks away, “you better go in there!”
I wince and knock on the door. No answer. I could just turn back... I knock again. Still no answer. I look over my shoulder at my friend walking back to the field and turn the door handle, moving inside.
“Hello?” Stepping into the cold tiled room, I see a blonde woman in the corner propping her feet up on a wooden desk. I walk over to her.
"Hello?" Her back is to me... I pat her shoulder. “Hello?!!”
The woman spins around and takes out her headphones, stuffing them in her lab coat pockets in a rush.
Startled, I jump back.
Now standing a few feet away and facing me, I can see the doctor is practically my age, maybe a few years older. If I didn't know better id say... Id say she was stunning too... all of a sudden I’m a bit embarrassed. Shit.
She looks me up and down. “What do you want? I’m in the middle of a great playlist and an even better novel.” She swivels her chair and points at her book as if im obviously interrupting something here. To be honest I'm a bit speechless at her reaction.
All that escapes me is “um sorry.” Im about to leave when-
"You're bleeding." She says it like a statement. Yeah, I know. The Dr puts her blonde curls up in a loose bun and rolls her chair over to my side. How did she just notice? I’m frozen in one shocked position as she pokes and prods my side.
“Ow”
She looks up at me. “You should take care of that leg. Pretty nasty abrasion.”
My mind screams. That’s why I’m here! You. Are. A. Doctor. Who is this girl?! Is this some sort of joke? She walks over to the door now interrupting my train of thought. Is she seriously leaving? I snap.
“Are you going to help me? Or leave me here? Because I know 8 year olds who would make better doctors than you!”
Turning to look at me she smiles, gently. “Calm down there commander. I’m getting supplies from the other room. Go ahead and sit on the table. I'll be right with you.” With that she was gone.
I move over to sit on the grey paper covered bench in the middle of the room slightly embarrassed by my outburst. The side of my left leg looks like someone took sandpaper to it. And some of the splinters are basically tree sized. Blood from my leg oozes onto the cool white paper. Luckily my shorts are short enough that they don’t require removing. But my arm is another story and I don’t think I can peel of my sweat soaked long sleeve shirt without a pair of scissors. My arm isn’t nearly as bad as my leg though so maybe I can clean it up on my own. Oh. The Commanders, the words on the side of my shirt. A soccer team I played on a few years ago. A few minutes pass and the good doctor finally returns. She enters the room with her hands full of supplies. She sets them down on the table beside me and pulls her chair over to my side slipping on a pair of latex gloves.
“Would you mind turning over on your side so I can get a better look?” She flips a switch behind her and I’m suddenly blinded by a bright florescent light. I ease myself over on my side. She grabs my left leg and props my ankle over on a pillow. “Hm..." she thinks out loud. "Looks like there isn't much bleeding anymore." A hand runs over my leg, stopping at the most affected area. Then two fingers are on my neck, my pulse races under her. "I ran into your friend out there, she said you might be a bit nervous."
I'm going to kill Octavia. I'm murdering her. Yep.
She moves away, "I’m going to administer a low level of Meperidine, it’s a painkiller. Should help you relax a bit, and... not feel what I’m doing.”
She grabs something from a tray, I strain as I feel the needle enter my leg. “I’ve got to give it to you Lexa. It is Lexa right? I saw your name tag. I’ve seen my fair share of camp injuries, but this is by far the worst one yet. What did you do? Jump into a pile of wood chips?”
I wince. “Something like that.”
"How are you feeling now?"
"Imgood. I feel good." The injections effect is strong and I feel myself becoming less and less tense with every passing second. Slipping into what feels like a warm loopy daydream.
“I’m Clarke by the way. Officially it’s Dr Griffen, but that’s my moms name. So just Clarke is fine.”
"Clarke" I say out loud. I like that.
"Good to see the pain meds have kicked in. Let's get you cleaned up."
———— POV change Clarke ------
I feel badly about my first impression with the injured young counselor, but I guess when your primary patients are pre teens with phony illnesses, sunburns and headaches... interruptions become far too often and my bedside manner has gone slowly but surely out the window. I’d be lying if I said seeing all this blood and getting my hands on some actual medical supplies didn’t make me a little joyous inside. Although it being at the expense of this beautiful young woman is a bit of a downer. Did I say beautiful? Keep it in your pants Griffin.
I take a deep breath and grace my tweezers, “I’ve moved on to taking out the splinters now. Slight pinch.”
Lexa winces. “Slight?!”
“Hey now don’t tell me you can’t take a few little pinches there commander.” I joke. I pull out more wood placing them in a waste dish. “I hear you baseball slid onto a wooden dock to catch a football? That’s commitment. That’s insane. But I’m impressed.”
"It was a tie breaking throw.. and I dove.. and it was a bridge."
"A tiebreak for the win?" This section of skin is wood free, moving up.
"...nope."
I laugh. She doesn't seem to find it as funny. I hope she's not embarrassed. A cute grumpy expression paints her face.
After pulling out the last piece I dress and wrap the leg. “Lay on your back please Lexa. I want to look at your arm too.”
Lexa rolls over seemingly caught off guard but still loopy from he medication. “Itsfineactually. Notthatbad. Think I can leave actually. Immaget back. Really. thanks though.” The counselor moves to sit up only to be pushed back down.
“Yeah no. You aren’t going anywhere. Not yet.” I push her gently down again. And move over to her side, running my hands along her now dark red sleeve. It feels deep, and warm to the touch. My expression grows more serious, I think she notices. “Lexa I’m going to help you remove this okay. Sit up please.” I grab a pare of scissors and begin to cut her shirt. I can see the pain in her eyes as I pull the shirt up and over her head revealing the torn skin on her arm. Her toned muscles flexing revealing her discomfort. “I can get you a gown if you’d like.”
“No. This is fine.”
I swivel over to the table grabbing another needle and cleaning supplies. When I turn back Lexa has locked eyes with mine. I flush, her eyes are- I realize what’s happening. By the time I drop the needle it’s too late. Shes passed out on my exam table.
Shit.
“Wake up. Lexa hey.” I try to rouse her awake. She opens her eyes and groans a little.
“Im awake, Im awake”
“What happened there?” I hope my voice coveys both my concern. She moves to sit up but I stop her. “Stop that. Why don’t you stay down a bit hot stuff. How are you feeling?” I take her wrist in mine and record her vitals.
“Im fine just got a liiiiiitttleeeee woozy there for a second.”
"Needles?"
"... maybe." She says ashamed.
I see the pain medication is still working. “mhmm, here, squeeze my fingers.” She obeys but her weakness is obvious. Could be from the injection. “Does your head hurt at all Lexa? Do you remember hitting your head when you dove?”
The girl laying on the bench rester her head and with eyes closed slurs her response. “No I didn’t hit it hard at all. No I don’t think I hit it.”
I move a careful hand up to her face, she warm but I don’t think it's a fever. “Just take it easy and i’ll finish up here as quick as I can.”
By the time I'm done with her arm, she's out like a light.
---- Lexas POV ----
Oh gods. My leg is on fire. I roll over on my side to be meant with a sharp sting on my arm. My arm. What happened? Then I remember. football, I dove, splinters, the doctor. Clarke. I must be with Clarke still. But wait, as I open my eyes I’m not met with the bright lights of her office, but warm light and a voice. Octavias voice.
“She's awake.”
Someone moves closer and I try to sit up.
“What time is it? How did I get here?” I see the bandages on my arm and leg now.
“Heyyy Lex. It's like 9:00, Clarke called and said you were pretty passed out so me and Link carried you back to the cabin. Well mostly he carried you.
That when I see him sitting in the corner.
Wait. “9:00 in the morning?” I look at her with confusion still cloudy from my nap.
“Well duh” she gestures to the window, “not 9:00 at night."
Wait I slept for 18 hours?
"Oh and here” she pulls three red pills out of her pocket. “For the swelling.”
I gladly take them. Lincoln passes me a bottle of water. “Thanks. My leg is killing me. I think Im going to get some ice.” I stand up now and walk a few steps avoiding putting weight on my leg.
“You know, Lexy you aint lookin too good. Are you sure it’s just you leg that hurts?”
“Yeah.” When I get to the door I catch a glimpse of myself in a small mirror and I can see what she’s talking about. Dark bags under my red eyes, runny nose, puffy face. I don’t think I’ve been crying… But then it hits me all at once and I find myself bent over a trash can puking my guts out. And it's hot in here, how did I just notice? It's so hot. I should open a window. I feel Octavia beside me but when I turn to look at her she fades away into darkness.
————Clarks POV————
“Where is she?!” Is she breathing?” Lincoln barged into my office with the frightening update. I grab a backpack and stuff it with whatever supplies I can think of.
"Should we bring her here?"
“No! Don’t move her.”
When I get to the small cabin Lexa is awake leaned up against the wall and sipping some water. I feel a little relieved. I bend down next to her and set down my bag with no time to waste. “Hey, heard you’re having a rough morning.”
“Didn’t know you made house calls” She laughs at her own comment but it ends in a cough. Her airway sounds closed off. That's strange. She looks at me with a small pinch of fear and I remember to wipe away my concern. Serious doctor face only.
“I do now.” I hold my hand up to her pale face then run a thermometer across her head. 103.1. I do a quick general exam, feeling around her glands and checking pupil response. Her silences look swollen. I grab my stethoscope and place a supporting hand on her back and shoulder. “Breathe deep as you can, hold for three seconds and then exhale.” I listen to the shaking and shallow breaths. “Good, again.” I want go to take BP but remember that her arm is injured and move to the other one. "keep breathing i’m going to take a listen to your heart” I lean in closer to the sick girl and she falls forward resting her head on my shoulder. Shes burning up, and the wheezing is worse. “Help me lay her back down on the bed”
Lexa now laying on the bed asks to open a window, shivering out the request “It smells like shit in here, and it’s like 100 degrees.”
Octavia responds, “Yeah sure thing." She opens all the windows. "And i’ll go get you that ice you wanted” she looks at me as if asking for approval and I nod my head yes.
“Im going to apply some pressure to your abdomen, tell me if you feel any discomfort.”
Nothing.
“How does your leg and arm feel?”
“Hot, hurts.”
I slowly unwrap the bandage on her arm and am met with swelling and rash.
“Lexa I think you’re having an allergic reaction to the bandage or maybe the wood from the doc. Are you allergic to anything?”
“Oak” She says wheezing.
My eyes widen. And you didn’t think to mention that at some point?!?!?!? I resist the urge to be upset. I reach down to grab something from my bag. “Well I think I know what should make you feel better. I move her shorts up to reveal the side of her hip.
"Not going to buy me dinner first--- OWE!"
I grab the syringe of epinephrin and plunge it into her skin, rubbing soothing circles around the site after.
"You should feel better soon, I think you were going into anaphylaxis."
I grab my stethoscope and listen to her lungs again. It's already sounding better. I take a breath, releasing the stress. I always feel protective of my patients, of people. It's in my nature, but something about this girl being hurt... it felt personal. I lean back against the wall looking up at her on the bed.
"I cant believe you didn't tell me you were allergic to a type of wood. I think you are the one who owes me dinner."
"Well." She sits up. "Seems like a fair trade. You did save my life."
She smiles... for a girl who almost died she sure looks happy.
"So, dinner.... where does Clarke Griffin, MD, Camp hero have in mind?"
I grin.