a little unsteady

“I never mind,” Yael smiled at Derek, hand going to his horse’s side, stroking it gently. “But I am a bit confused as to how you think your horse being here keeps your father from worrying....doesn’t her being here still imply you’re on your own again in some capacity?” She quirked a brow at her friend.

“How many ways can I tell you that I’m fine, Fe–– really,” Yael laughed lightly at her friend’s concern, pushing hair back from her brow as she moved around the sick bed that was vacant at the moment. She was cleaning the area for the next time someone came in and needed care, which could be any moment, as was usually the case. “I can’t hope to help anyone unless I am, right? So why would I purposefully push myself? I don’t want to end up here,” she gestured at the bed before throwing some torn linens into a pile, “anymore than you want to nurse me back to health. I promise, I’m fine. All healed up and everything.” She smiled, trying to reassure him. @felix-ex-tenebris

“Oh, Pandora,” Yael laughed slightly, hand going to her chest as she caught her breath. She hadn’t realized the younger woman had been organizing some of their herbal stores, “sorry, I just–– didn’t realize you would be in so early. The sun’s barely up.” Its light was streaming steadily through the shudders of the small cabin that doubled as a make-shift medical center for those requiring rather immediate attention.  @bellatorlukos

“You’re crazy,” she shook her head in disagreement, not all that serious. “Stop, stop, stop,” she braced her palms against either ear, “I can’t keep listening to this, I won’t be able to take you seriously anymore, Ev– honestly, stop while you’re ahead,” Yael laughed, making a face. “I’m not saying they’re bad. Just that’s a stretch and you know it.”

“I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me, Jonah,” Yael laughed, “I’m flattered you think so,” and she was–– the nurse didn’t think he gave out compliments like that frequently. “I’d like to think so, anyway. But, if not–– they’re stuck with me. Kind of like the PD with you, right?”

Yael hated not being able to help someone who clearly needed it so she sighed after a beat, “look–– it’s just over the counter but maybe you can try Nytol? Or even Benadryl.” She was already rifling through the cabinet for either one. “Sometimes we give it to patients who are having a hard time sleeping but aren’t in a ton of pain either.” She wouldn’t be giving out narcotics without a prescription or express orders from a doctor. “It could help, more than taking nothing anyway. You don’t have a sensitive stomach, do you?”

“Well, I’m a very good choice because I’ll definitely help you with these, there’s no question. You might want to save some for yourself, actually,” she grinned, biting into the donut contentedly, “because I can’t promise I won’t eat them all.” Yael snorted and had to cover her mouth as she laughed, “Life Alert? Really? I mean, it’s not the worst idea I’ve heard, and is definitely less creepy than a nanny cam.”

“Why don’t you ask Jonah to help? I’m sure he’d love to be in a t-shirt and sweatpants all day.” Yael joked, “or like your entire family– I always forget you have….five siblings? Six? I feel like they’re your moving crew.”

“Claire?” Yael squinted at the figure walking past her bus stop on her way home from the hospital. Late night shifts always meant she was waiting for the bus at odd, infrequent hours. “I know what I’m doing walking around in the middle of the night,” she gestured to the bus stop shelter, “what about you? Couldn’t sleep?” Her first assumption. She would’ve usually let it slide but she liked Claire and sensed something was off.

“People easily forget the unpleasant parts of history I think. And I think the moment someone has an accent, they jump several IQ points in peoples’ minds. I don’t know why but I bet it’s statistically proven somewhere that Americans do view Europeans as more sophisticated.” Yael snorted, “It’d be such a mess, I really don’t think you want me practicing. I took it in the third and fourth grade I’m pretty sure.”

“People do for sure but I guess that’s where boundaries come into play. Like...it took me a while to stop swapping shifts with anyone who needed it. Sometimes you’ve gotta put yourself first to be able to do a good job, you know?” She smiled at Shira, thinking that the younger woman would do just fine. “Oh? Where are you thinking? I didn’t know exactly until I worked in the ER and then I kinda just felt like it was the right place to be.”

“You know it’s okay to need help, right? To ask for it too.” Yael sighed, rubbing the back of her neck, “I wish I could help, Elijah–– I just can’t give you something without a prescription and I can’t really prescribe until we know what’s going on...which is where a doctor comes in.” She pressed her lips together, giving him an apologetic look, “I’m sorry...”

“Oh, I’m sure–– I feel like people get used to being able to throw money at a problem that they don’t understand when things take the time they take.” She experienced it enough in the ER to know that some people just weren’t used to the word no. “I feel like younger people tend to be more forgiving? I know it’s a broad statement but like..I don’t know, more understanding maybe?”