From the ashes you'll rise

“It’s alright- I can..um..” She used her arms to push herself up so she could rest her good leg on the ground, holding the other one up a bit. “I…I can hop!” She suggested, looking at the nurse with suggestive eyes, smiling a bit. 

Sofia quickly moved to catch Payton around the waist, not wanting to risk the girl tripping and hurting herself further. “Hopping could work,” she agreed with a laugh, holding on tight. “I’ll support, you hop, and between us you should make it!”

Payton had calmed down a bit, nodding slowly and looking up at the woman. “Yeah, that sounds fine.” 

Sofia smiled at Payton, and stood up. “I won’t be long honey,” she promised. True to her word, she was back within ten minutes, wheeling a chair in front of her. She looked between Payton and the wheelchair and frowned. “Right...getting you in there could be tricky.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.” Payton nodded slowly, keeping her eyes averted away from the nurse’s- feeling a bit..guilty for some reason. “So- now what?”

“Anytime. Right now, I’m going to fetch a wheelchair and take you to the medical ward, find a doctor to examine you, and then go find out who your therapist is. Sound like a plan?”

“Could you? These lists are constantly changing and it gets confusing after a while but- Yeah it would mean a lot if you could find out for me.”

“I know honey, it’s confusing for the staff as well. It’s just to make sure that you receive the best possible level of care we can provide to you. I can definitely do that, after I find a doctor to check you over I’ll find it out.”

Payton frowned, picking at the beds of her nails and huffing stubbornly. “I hope he rots there.” She muttered coldly, looking up. “Do you know who my new therapist is?” She questioned, looking up. She didn’t really want to talk but- she wanted to seem like she did so it appeared she cared and deserved the sympathy and not him.

Sofia hid a small smile at the girl’s words, remembering how it was to be fourteen and feel everything so strongly. “Unfortunately, I think that’s against Serenity’s rules,” she said gently, before shaking her head. “I don’t honey, I’m sorry. I can find out for you though?”

Payton took deep, jagged breaths. Anger filtered into her and she felt her cheeks darken. “I- Alright.” She responded with a bitter frown, looking at her lap. Usually she wouldn’t want to be touched but- something prevented her from pushing away the woman’s arm. “I- It isn’t fair that he walks away fine and- and I break like a glass doll.”

Sofia nodded. “It isn’t. It’s unfortunately a side effect of your illness. Your bones will be more fragile compared to other people’s, and there’s not a lot we can do about it,” she said gently. “I guess your only consolation is he is being punished as well, and I think he’s already down in ISO.”

I work both wards so I have some leeway too, but I think I’m cutting it close. Say this, we get this cleaned up, find what we both likely need, then maybe–just maybe have time to get the paper work done? Honestly that would be a dream right now. 

Sounds like a plan to me! After we’ve cleaned up here, maybe we could fetch a coffee and have a break first, and then we might feel more like cracking on with the paperwork.

“B-Broken?” She whispered, panic beginning to settle in as she took deep uneven breaths. “I- Broken? If that asshole broke my shin I’m going to break-” She stopped herself, tightening her balls into fists. “What- What happens if it’s broken?”

“If it’s as painful as you say it  is, and with what I felt, there’s a good chance it is broken,” Sofia nodded, moving again to sit back next to Payton and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “If it is broken, the doctor will put your leg in a cast, and you’ll be on crutches for a while.”

Payton let out a cry at the nurse’s touch, tears filling her eyes as she flinched. “12.” She replied quickly, sucking in a sharp breath. “Ouch- Ouch that hurts.” She whimpered, hanging her head forward.

Sofia rocked back on her heels and looked up at Payton, keeping her hands away from the younger girl’s shin. “I think it might be broken honey,” she said softly, her eyes filled with pity. “I’m going to have to fetch a doctor and get him to take a look though.”

Payton frowned, shaking her head. No way in hell was she talking about this- she just wanted to forget it. Looking down she aimed their attention to her leg. “I- My leg. I can’t even walk- my shin- he kicked it really hard.” 

Sofia nodded, and moved to crouch in front of Payton. “On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate the pain?” the nurse asked as she gently felt along Payton’s shin, her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to work out what was wrong, and feared that Payton’s shin bone was broken.

A woman after my own heart. I still avoid it as long as I can, but now I think I’m going to have Holmes after me if I don’t finish the files soon. 

Unfortunately, so am I more than likely. Being head nurse gives me slightly more leeway but...I still have loads of paperwork I should probably be doing!

“Yeah, well he also betrayed me and lied right to my face.” She huffed, looking away from the woman. “He accused of me not caring about people and being a psycho. If anyones the fucking psycho it’s him!” She raised her voice again, flinching a bit at her sudden tone and raising a hand to cover it, looking down. She was already in enough trouble- she couldn’t risk getting into more. “I’m- I’m sorry- I’m sorry, I’m still a bit..worked up. Being in the amount of pain I am and knowing he walked away apparently unharmed doesn’t help either.” 

Sofia wrapped an arm around Payton and hugged her softly, knowing how angry the girl must be feeling. “It’s okay to be worked up, but I’m no therapist...this is something you should talk to them about though. It’s not good to keep those kind of feelings bottled up, or you might find yourself getting into another fight. Where are you hurting?”

I just finished my rounds an hour ago and I’m on to paper work now, believe me, I rather get away from that to help you for a while.

Oh, I know the feeling. I’ve definitely perfected the art of doing anything but paperwork!

“Long story short, he was being a self obsessed pig and pissed me off.” She frowned, looking down at her hands. “He actually fought back though, I wasn’t expecting it. He didn’t really hold back either..” 

“I’ll let you in on a life secret, you’re going to meet many more people who are self obsessed pigs. Unfortunately, you can’t go around beating them all,” Sofia told her gently, smiling a little. “I can see that, you’re looking a little banged up.”

Payton frowned a bit, twiddling her thumbs as she looked at the woman, sighing. “I don’t regret it, I would still go and continue to beat the shit out of him if I could.” She said immediately, knowing she was going to get a lecture or something about how she should learn from this. “So did he tell you everything that happened?” She lifted her eyes to look at her. 

Sofia tried to hide a smile at the feisty girl’s attitude, and nodded. “I know, but I’m thinking that right now, that’s not the wisest decision health wise,” she said smoothly, before shaking his head. “He told me what he saw, but he isn’t entirely sure on what happened before he got there.”

“Are you the one who’s going to be taking me to ISO? I was promised a check-up first..” Payton whispered as she sat on her bed, her cheeks stained with tears as she looked down at her hands- avoiding their eyes. 

“I’m afraid so honey. Alton asked me to come and check you over, he thought you might be more comfortable with me rather than him,” Sofia said gently, taking a seat beside Payton.

I think we could and honestly, it looks like you need the help more than I need those notes. Here i’m happy to help and maybe, hopefully they’re in here somewhere.

You don’t have to help if you’re busy, I know you doctors have a ton of stuff to do all the time.