Chapter Text
Jason is out of his seat and headed toward the sound of commotion before his brain fully processes what he’s hearing. The shout that just echoed through the ship was startling to say the least, and the combination of whines and yelling that follow are more than a little disconcerting, given that he knows the sounds are coming from a young woman and not a terrified, wounded animal. Jason's fear for whatever has gone wrong with the girl is second only to his fear that it will lead to the loss of their cargo; they're cutting profit margins way too close already. They can't afford for anything to go awry with this job.
“Okay, Cass, okay,” Tim is saying as Jason approaches. “We won't go in. Look,” He makes a big show of shutting the door to the infirmary. “No tests today. It’s okay. At least let me give you something to help with - ”
“Bastard!” Cass shouts, snatching Tim's case of medical supplies and hurling it toward the wall.
“Cass!” Tim shouts, “Why would you - you can’t just - ”
He cuts off his words as Jason comes down the steps to the infirmary. Cass looks at Jason, narrowing her eyes as she glares for a moment before frowning.
“You're not him?” she says, apparently baffled, and glances around as if she’s surprised by her surroundings. All the aggression seems to drain out of her, and she drifts placidly toward the couch and curls up at one end, pulling a pillow and blanket close.
“So, she's added cussing and throwing shit around to her repertoire,” Jason says with false cheer. “You’re right, Doc. She really is a prodigy.”
“It's just a bad day,” Tim says.
“No,” Jason corrects sharply. “A ‘bad day’ is when someone's yellin' and general commotion spooks the herd of cattle packed in our hold. This is pretty common transport work for us but maybe you haven’t had much experience with livestock. When cattle get spooked and stampede when they’ve got no place to run? It's kind of like a...a meat grinder. And it'll lose us more than half the herd.”
“She hasn't gone anywhere near the cattle!” Tim protests.
“No, but in case you hadn't noticed, her voice kinda carries when she’s screaming at the top of her lungs.”
“She just-”
“Look, as soon as those cows are off the ship, she can yell until our ears bleed,” Jason says; he turns to Cass before adding, “Although I would take it as a kindness if she didn't.”
She regards them both with a vacant gaze.
“The human body can be drained of blood in 8.6 seconds given adequate vacuuming systems,” she says, frowning even more deeply.
Tim grimaces at the words, running a hand down his face. Jason offers a forced smile.
“Neat,” Jason says. “Thanks for sharing.” He turns back to Tim. “See, her usual way of being morbid and creepifying is no problem at all, as long as she does it quietly.”
“Her behaviors are symptoms of serious mental illness and injury, Captain,” Tim snaps, managing to make the title sound like a vile slur of some kind. “Psychosis that was hand-crafted by sadistic scientists who treated her brain like it was a fucking playground for their inhumane experiments. The fact of the matter is that I have no idea what'll set her off, but I’m doing my best. But hey, if you’ve got some psychiatric or medical expertise to offer, then by all means, ne my guest.”
“I’m the captain, not a doctor, and I'm sure as hell not here to be a goddamn babysitter for either of you,” Jason replies with equal vitriol. “We have work to do if we’re gonna keep this rig flying and the crew fed. It’s on you to keep her quiet. Gag her, if you have to; understand?”
“I’m not going to gag her when she’s already- ”
Jason leaves without further comment before Tin can even finish his declaration. Tim sighs, hiding his face in his hands for a few moments. When he looks up, Cas has come back close, studying his face with wide, concerned eyes. She reaches to cup his face in her hands and brushes her thumbs over the corners of his mouth.
“Careful, face might stick that way,” she teases with a smirk.
“Cass - ”
“Turn that frown upside down!” she insists, poking at his cheeks. He gives his best try at a smile, but it must look as terribly fake as it feels because Cas looks a bit concerned. She pats his shoulder gently. “Keep practicing,” she advises solemnly before letting go of him.
She wanders away toward the passenger cabins, humming quietly, and it takes Tim a little while to recognize the song from an old play their parents took them to see once - a hopeful, if platitudinous, musical about a little orphan girl, set back on Earth-that-was with enough of a nostalgic feel and catchy soundtrack to keep the work alive over the centuries.
But brother, you're never fully dressed, though you may wear the best, you’re never fully dressed, without a smile…