Escape Attempt Redux.

[onlyforthedream]

My respect for the doctors who have so painstakingly guarded my significant injuries from infection is immense, as is my gratitude, but enough is enough. I'm getting out of this clinic. In three days it'll have been twenty since I arrived, and I haven't spent a one of them outside yet. Aside from a few brief, stolen strolls down the compound hallway and one foray onto the front stoop with Bucky, it's been seventeen days of reading, fielding visitors and playing cards, and I may be a veteran but I'm not ready for a life of retirement yet.

I know when Dr. Grey will be coming in- I know all of the doctors' schedules, now- so when she is I've made sure I'm sitting perfectly upright and at my leisure, notebook and pen in hand. My shoulder is still miles away from back to normal, and the healing incision along my ribcage has a ways to go as well, but I know myself. I need to start some kind of physical therapy regime, need to get on my feet. Lying here isn't going to do me any more good it's just going to make me go stir crazy. The risk of infection has to be passed, and the only reason I'm still here is caution.

Which I appreciate, but God almighty, I have got to get out of here.

"Dr. Grey," I say, smiling, easily slipping my pen between the notebook's pages and closing it with one hand.

"Good afternoon."

Comments

[drownondryland]

"Captain Rogers," Meredith says, offering him a smile. The afternoons lately, the days in general, haven't been particularly good at all, but she pulls through as she always does, and it helps to have patients. It would be better for their sake if she didn't have any, if no one needed to be here, and it's a relief that Claire's healed up enough to go. While people are here, though, whether it's for a couple minutes or a couple weeks, they give her a chance to actually be of some use, to focus her attention elsewhere. Besides, he seems like a nice guy. "How are you feeling today?"

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"Fine, doctor, just fine." I set the notebook aside onto the now almost farcical tower of books beside the bed.

"I was hoping to speak with you, actually, about a few things."

[drownondryland]

"Of course," Meredith says. "What's up?" At least it doesn't quite sound as if there are any new problems, though it's tough to tell with some patients, whether they'll be wholly honest or not. She thinks, though, he would be.

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"First, I wanted to ask after Dr. O'Malley," I say.

"I haven't seen him around, I was hoping he hadn't taken ill. I'm afraid I only thanked him once, while heavily sedated, for saving my life."

[drownondryland]

It never occurred to Meredith he'd ask for George, though she thinks now it should have been obvious. She draws in a slow, sharp breath. "I'm sorry," she says, trying to maintain professional calm, though the loss is too recent for her to hide entirely her own unhappiness at having to say this. "Dr. O'Malley is gone. He... he vanished about a week ago."

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

It's hardly a satisfactory answer, which means I can scarcely imagine what it must feel like for those he's left behind. I've been told about it, of course, the way people disappear, but as with the rest of the island, it's so far been an intangible idea.

Earnestly contrite, I can't help straightening up, frowning. I don't know Meredith Grey, except that she's involved with Sean Cassidy and is a doctor, so I have nothing to offer except condolences.

"I'm sorry," I say, "I didn't know."

[drownondryland]

"No, of course not," Meredith says. "I should have thought to mention it, he was your doctor." In the last few weeks, she's had her mind full of her own problems, and when it comes to George's disappearance, she's been hard-pressed to think of anyone but herself, even Lexie. It's not much of an excuse, but she doesn't think she can be blamed for that either. "But if I know George as well as I think I do, he would have told you you don't have to thank him again. He was doing his job. He was just happy he succeeded."

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"Of course," I reply with small nod. I can't imagine she wants to dwell on the topic. Given the number of patients around, she probably has more than enough time to do that outside of the clinic.

"Dr. Grey, I'd like to talk to you about being discharged from the clinic."

[drownondryland]

With as badly as she misses George, Meredith finds it a relief to change topics. She's running out of people to whom she can talk about these things; George himself was one of the last, and now, now it's just easier to keep it all packed tight in her head.

"Discharged?" she echoes, brow raising a bit. "You are coming along very well, Captain, but I'm not sure that's smart just yet."

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"I realize it may seem premature," I reply with a measured nod, "but by virtue of the serum in my veins, I am a very quick healer. I'd like to began rehabilitating the shoulder as quickly as possible, and I honestly believe it can handle the stress."

[drownondryland]

Meredith draws in a deep breath, considering this. He does have a peculiar advantage over the people she's treated before, and he's shown no sign yet he'll take a turn for the worse. "I understand wanting to get to work," she says wryly, reaching to check his pulse as she talks. "I'm going to have a quick check, but, as I said, you've been doing very well. It's premature, but... I'm not ruling it out."

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, Dr. Grey," I say, turning my wrist when she reaches for it and offering her a slight smile.

It's not sweet talking, whatever Bucky would call it. Simply presenting a factual argument.

[drownondryland]

"I'm not making any promises," Meredith says, but she smiles anyway, adjusting her stethoscope as she goes on, moving to listen to his breathing. "Deep breath for me now. Good. How's your shoulder been feeling?"

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"Mostly tight," I tell her after a deep, steady inhale and a slow even exhale.

"It aches, but it doesn't hurt as such. The same for my ribs- there's soreness but there isn't pain the way there was."

[drownondryland]

"Good." Meredith nods, speaking almost to herself as she straightens up, continuing her exam. "Good. Not the soreness, of course, but that's going to be true for a while. As long as you don't push yourself too hard, as long as you know your limits, that shouldn't be a problem. You're not fully healed yet, far from it, but so long as you're going to be careful, I see no reason you should have to stay here. I will expect you to check in with me, though, for the next week or so, just to be safe."

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

I offer her a real grin, no broader than my usual fair, but I'm relieved.

"Dr. Grey, I'll check in every night if it'll set your mind at ease, so long as I have a free pass the rest of the time."

[drownondryland]

"I think you've got a deal," Meredith says, holding out her hand, though it's mostly a joke. "And I expect to find you're not pushing that shoulder beyond what it can handle. I think you know that'll only make the injury last longer."

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

I take her hand with my right and shake it firmly, once- not overly so, I don't have to prove a point, here. She's already acquiesced very graciously to my proposal.

"Unfortunately, I've had enough experience with them to know how true that is. If I have a need to-" Which I probably won't, but then, it's been a heck of a long time since I had to do any kind of rehab, "-can you recommend someone with the clinic who specializes in physical therapy?"

[drownondryland]

"Unfortunately, it's not a specialty for any of us," Meredith says. He may not be trying to prove something, but his grip is reassuring. "I'd be happy to keep working with you, or the other doctor Grey, Jean, she might be a good choice. And if I remember correctly, there's equipment in the Rec Center for that purpose — left by a boy who was here a few years ago." For all she knows, it's been cleared out or vanished with him, but last she heard, that wasn't the case. It's something she'll have to look into.

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, that's good to know." Sitting back a little, I can't stop from smiling again, a little more.

"Do I have to sign anything?"

[drownondryland]

Meredith grins and shakes her head. "Our clinic's about as simple as it gets," she says wryly. "No signature needed, since you're not leaving against advice. Which I guess means you're free to go."