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Zayne rushed to the ER the moment he heard the code come over his pager. He burst into the frantic ER, hearing screams and animalistic hissing. The ER was a mess of injured citizens and hunters from a recent Wanderer attack. Xavier had a few cuts and bruises. Emcee had a gash on her left arm and her right side was bleeding from some cuts. Within the chaos, nurses called for doctors to help with various injuries.
“We need a hunter!” a charge nurse called, struggling against a violent patient. Zayne wasn’t close enough to see the details, but he could see a patient lashing out and screaming in pain. A flash of red hair and Zayne knew exactly who the patient was.
“No! Stop it! Please!” One of the uninjured hunters helped the nurse restrain Scooter to the hospital bed. “I’m sorry!”
“That’s not necessary,” Zayne said firmly as Scooter struggled and pulled at the restraints.
“Doctor, she’s attacked every nurse and doctor trying to get close to her,” the nurse stated. “Hospital policy says we have to restrain aggressive patients for their safety, the safety of the staff, and the safety of other patients.”
“Zayne, please, please, I didn’t…I’m not dangerous,” Scooter pleaded, pulling at the cuffs and hissing in pain. “I won’t bite anyone. I won’t hurt anyone!”
Zayne grit his teeth. He knew hospital policy better than anyone, and he also upheld the policy more than anyone. “She’s young,” he replied. “Look at her. She’s scared more than anything.” Scooter hyperventilated, weakly pulling at the cuffs, eyes wide and glassy. She was also wounded. Zayne wanted nothing more than to uncuff her.
“Doctor Li, she’s dangerous,” the nurse insisted. “We can’t release her until she’s proven to be safe.”
“I’ll treat her,” Zayne said, leaving no room for arguments. “Go check on other patients.” The nurse took a deep breath and moved to the other side of the ER. He sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’d appreciate a little privacy with my patient,” he told the hunter guarding Scooter.
“I can’t—” the hunter stammered.
“She’s restrained, is she not?” Zayne snapped, glaring coldly. “I hardly think an injured teenager is going to break free and attack everything in sight.” The hunter sighed and stepped outside of the curtain, muttering under his breath about idiot doctors. Zayne turned to Scooter, his gaze softening. “It’s going to be alright.” He gently touched her shoulder. “Calm down. I’m here.”
Scooter panted heavily and trembled, tears welling in her eyes. The too tight metal cuffs chafed her wrists. “Zayne,” she whimpered in pain, teeth bared. “It hurts. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”
“I know, little one,” Zayne soothed, doing a routine check-up. Bruises littered her small body, her side was bleeding profusely from a Wanderer’s bite. The wound had tinges of green. Zayne sighed softly. “No wonder you’re in so much pain.” Some wanderer bites had a venom that attacked pain receptors, causing them to be heightened.
Scooter snarled, trying to bite Zayne’s hand instinctively when the doctor gently touched her wound. “Sorry! Sorry,” she whined, turning her head away to bite the pillow. “I’m sorry.” Tears slid down her cheeks.
“I’ll give you some anesthesia before I treat your wound,” Zayne told her. “I do apologize. The numbing agent will hurt for a few seconds.” He prepared the shots. “You can scream if you’d like or you just tear the pillow to shreds.” Before Scooter could give an answer, she screamed, biting the pillow. Zayne injected the agent into three areas around and in her wound. After about thirty seconds, the area was completely numb.
“Better?” Zayne softly asked.
“Ye—yeah,” Scooter panted harshly. “Pains not all gone, but it’s good enough.” She watched Zayne clean the bite and put antibiotics on it. “I’ll give you more medication later. I don’t want to overwhelm your system with too many harsh antibiotics.” He wrapped the wound, and Xavier opened the curtain. “What do you want?” Zayne asked, not looking at him.
Xavier grimaced, unlocking the restraints on Scooter. “I apologize on behalf of the Association. Scooter isn’t a dangerous patient.” Scooter rubbed her wrists, looking down. Her wrists were red from the tight cuffs. “Emcee is okay, and she’s chewing out the hunter who agreed to cuff Scooter.”
“Good,” Zayne smiled. “Scooter will be able to go home soon. I’d like for her to stay in the Linkon area.” He sent her a stern look. “At least until your wound is healed enough that it won’t get infected. The venom will stay in your system for a day or two while the medicine works to flush it.”
“…okay,” Scooter mumbled.
“We’ll keep an eye on her,” Xavier told Zayne. “I’m sure she’ll feel comfortable at Rafayel’s. That or Sylus does have a safe house in Linkon.” Though his blue eyes narrowed and he frowned at the thought of Sylus being so close to Linkon, especially since it was protocore framed to look like Onychinus property that caused the recent wanderer attacks.
Rafayel broke all the traffic laws on his way to Akso Hospital after getting Xavier’s call. He burst into the ER, rushing to Scooter. “You’re lucky I care about your careers, love, or I’d be suing the hospital and the Association,” he huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Are you okay, guppy?”
“‘m fine,” Scooter murmured tiredly. “Tired.”
“I can see,” Rafayel grinned, ruffling her messy hair. “You’re staying with me for the time being. Can she be discharged?” he asked Zayne.
“Yes, you just need to sign some paperwork as she is still a minor and can’t be discharged on her own.” Zayne gave him a clipboard with a bunch of medical terminology and paperwork. “I’ve highlighted where you have to sign.” Knowing Rafayel wouldn’t read everything, he’d taken it upon himself to fill out the important stuff.
“Aw, thanks, doc,” Rafayel flashed a bright smile. “What isn’t covered by insurance, charge it to Sylus. It’s the least he could do as he can’t be here himself. He’s…busy taking care of bad business.” Sylus knew about the frame job and was working tirelessly to prove his innocence while bringing to real perpetrators to justice.
“Noted,” Zayne dryly sighed.
“Come on, guppy. I have a movie marathon planned for tonight. We’ll get snacks on the way home.” Rafayel helped Scooter walk to his car. “What do you want to eat?” He got no response, and he looked in his rear view mirror to see Scooter was already asleep. “Ah. Get some sleep, little guppy. You’ll be okay.”