Chapter Text
Platter, platter, platter.
Rain drummed against the canvas. The back of the medical tent was quiet. A prometheum lamp was standing half dimmed on the table. A caloussed set of hands brushed over a stack of reports. The red pen had been left untouched beside it.
"You are up late again." A gentle voice chuckled. "You'll be no good tomorrow."
She looked at the red pen and a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "But perhaps we have something to celebrate."
She set down her cup infront of him, the aroma filled the old doctor's nostrils.
"Still fresh." She smiled. "I hope this iteration captures it more."
Platter, platter, platter.
His digits curled around the metal mug, warm steel against cold hands, he grips it tighter trying not to let himself get lost in the scent.
It almost smelled like home. Almost.
He took a sip, let the liquid settle on his tongue, he did not look content.
"I assume it still needs adjustment." She sighed. "And I thought I finally got it."
"It's not bad." The old doctor shook his head.
"But not perfect." She argued, plopping down on a chair beside him, taking one of the reports from the stack to read.
Platter, platter, platter.
"We are out of clean dressings." She frowned. "Why haven't you said anything."
The old doctor let out a reflexive chuckle.
"I received the update that the next supply drop is delayed by another rotation this morning." He shrugged, joining his other hand to the one on the cup.
"But I filed the order under 'high priority'!" She pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'll have a word with the munitorum clerk tomorrow."
The old doctor only nodded along, his eyes wandering to the red pen.
Platter, platter, platter.
"Sorry." She apologized, tracing the trajectory of his gaze. Her hand found its way to his shoulder.
The rain continued to drum against the canvas as the prometheum lamp buzzes.
"You did good today." She gave his shoulder a reassuring rub. He said nothing in return. The old doctor took another sip from his cup.
"But not perfect." He muttered.
Platter, platter, platter.
Platter, platter, platter.
"But enough." She quietly argued.
The old doctor put his cup down to finally face her. Her hair stuck to the edges of her face, creating veins of rainwater streaming down her face.
"I had forgotten something at hangar Delta." She replied before he could say a thing. "The rain caught me half way back home." She chuckled.
"You'll catch a cold like that." He sighed, placing his cup down to stand up and retrieve a towel. He did not wait for her to say something either, wrapping it around her head to squeeze out the water from her hair.
"You shouldn't be so careless." He argued admidst rigorous rubs that left her hair all tousled.
"Hey..." She tried to protest muffled by each motion. "You're...." She huffed. "Ruining my..." Not that he cared. "My hair!"
"Better than soaked." The old doctor denied, though there was a glint of mischiev sparking in his tired eyes.
"Do you know how long it took to braid those?" She whined. "In contrary to what you think I only have 2 hands."
"And a lot to complain for someone dripping puddles onto my office floor." He argued.
She looked down towards her boots and felt her cheeks getting warm.
"By the sacred cogitator! I thought I had wrung out most of it before I entered." She cursed, taking a step back, though the old doctor prevented her from taking another, holding her in the grasp of his towel.
"Dry your head first young lady." He continued to pat her face dry. "The floor can't be saved anynore anyway."
She reached up to take over the towel from him. Soft fingers brushing against leathery callous as the towel changed owners. Eyes dropping to the floor in embarrassment.
Platter, platter, platter.
The old doctor lowered himself back onto his chair, his knees creaking in motion. Her eyes instantly dart to them. He took another sip from the tea feeling the brew warming his tired bones.
"How long?" She questioned, furrowing her brows, her gaze wandering up from his knees to his face. "You are due for another cartrilage injection."
He laughed.
"With these needles? I'd have more than bad knees to worry about." He shook his head, making her freeze in motion.
"Not them too." She widened her eyes, holding her head. "And the sanitizer?"
He looked away in shame, leaving her gasping.
"Y-you! You have to tell me that!" She argued bewildered taking a step towards him, her boots making a wet squelching sound.
"What else of the inventory is missing? No, don't tell me you depended on that missed supply drop." Her frown deepened, though by the looks of his face she already knew the answer.
"Forget it, I'll ring the damn clerk out of his sleep! This is the third time he has misplaced a scheduled drop!" She hissed, throwing the towel around her neck.
"No." He denied, his sharpened gaze glaring at her for a reason he didn't understand.
Platter, platter, platter.
"No? What is that supposed to mean?" She put her hands on her hips, puffing her chest defiantly.
"Please...." He found no words to finish the sentence.
Her flash of defiance went as quick as it came, seeing his pleading gaze. She let her arms fall to the side, a perplexed look on her face.
Platter, platter, platter.
She pulled a chair close to him and sat down, but his eyes kept themselves glued to the spot she just stood at.
Taking one good look at him her hand crept over the table in the search for his. They were cold. So unfamiliar cold. Yet she said nothing, only squeezed them tight.
Platter, platter, platter.
Platter, platter, platter.
P l a t t e r , p l a t t e r , p l a t t e r .
The old doctor's breath hitched as his muscles tensioned, trying so hard to focus. She tried rubbing soothing circles with her thumb. He took another sip from his tea. His breath steadied. His inner storm did not by the look of his eyes.
"You should rest." She let out a heavy sigh.
"I am not finished with my reports yet." He lied.
"It was not a suggestion." She shot back stern, though her voice softened with the next sentence. "Let me handle the rest, really."
Platter, platter, platter.
The old doctor did not comply on a whim, he stared a few moments more at the puddle on the floor, listening to the rain.
"Please." She insisted gently.
"Rest."
"I'll keep watch."
Platter, platter, platter.
Platter, platter, platter.
Platter, platter, platter.