The New Doctor

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The day started just like any other for Faust. He woke up early and promptly fell back asleep for another hour. He walked across his room and stepped into his bathroom, turning on the shower as quickly as possible. When the water was hot enough he stripped down and got in, enjoying the hot water relaxing his muscles. Faust washed from head to toe, rinsed, then dried off and went about the rest of his morning routine. He got dressed in his usual outfit, red shirt, black pants, and went downstairs to eat a meal. The young man poured himself some cereal and milk quietly ate, smiling the whole time. He finished his meal, cleaned the dishes and put a saucer of milk by his open window, just in case that stray cat came buy again like the other day. He got up and picked up his coat and hat from the coat rack and walked out the door.

Walking down the street Faust saw familiar faces, some smiling back at him. Underneath his wide brimmed hat Faust's snowy white hair gleamed, shoulder length, sleek and smooth. His gentle green eyes shone out like small beacons. He walked the streets for a number of minutes, the whole way humming and smiling. The people who knew the man weren't surprised, he always was good natured and kind, but today it seemed even more so. Faust looked up to see a small black cat traveling the rooftops, moving toward his house, the saucer of milk would be empty when Faust returned that night. Faust turned the corner and was faced with his destination, a small hospital.

Faust had owned a tiny clinic closer to his home before getting the call to be the main doctor at this hospital. He worked with patients of any and every malady and knew them all in a one on one relationship. He was a community hero, admired, for everyone in that area knew someone whose life was saved by the doctor. Now he was going to try to transfer that to his new job, to know, and help, his patients every way he can. Faust sighed as he reflected, remembering the moment where he gave the young nurse the key to the clinic and told her that it was hers now. She promised to follow in his footsteps and help as many people as possible.

Faust walked through the door and hung up his hat and coat. He walked to the front desk and rang the bell cheerfully. "The doctor's in!" He said, his voice filled with glee.

((invite))

[Cella]

Cella had been working in the back room, going over the massive papers she had been given to announce the deaths of all those who had fallen victim to that hideous necromancer not more than a few days ago. The very same people she was but moments away from curing. The pictures of their dead faces still haunted her every waking and sleeping hour, she was, as an after effect of that experience, tired, stressed and on the verge herself, of a physical lps when the bell on the counter sounded out, very loudly in her mind.

She opened her mouth to ask on of the orderlies to get it, but then sighed as she realized, they had not yet arrived for work and so, with a heavy sigh, she stood wearily from her desk and strode to the front of the hospital. She had not heard him say, “The Doctor’s in, only had heard the bell, more in her mind than for its real sound any way. As she approached the counter, her feet deceived her and faltered slightly as she looked at the handsome man standing there before her. Suddenly she realized she must look awful. Well, no helping that now she inwardly sighed to herself and continued to meet him.

“Yes…” She started, her violet eyes watching him. “What might I help you with?” She asked in the most professional manner she could muster in her exhausted state as she unconsciously ran her hand over her apron to straighten it out and awaited his answer. He didn’t look ill to her, or hurt in any way, but one never knew around these parts what could ail the people. It seemed all manner of strange and odd viruses had began to pop up, now she knew why and from whom they came from, the only problem was, she knew he would not be stopped any time soon.

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Faust heard scuffling in the back, someone was there. He hoped someone was there, otherwise there would be nobody at the hospital, and what kind of hospital has no employees on at any given time. A few moments later he heard someone start to walk his way. A young woman came forward and tripped slightly. When she looked up they were looking into each other's eyes for a brief moment.

“Yes, what might I help you with?”

She obviously didn't hear him say he was the doctor. Faust, however, was patient. "My name is Faust, I've been hired on as the doctor for this facility." He stated, smiling slightly. "I believe you have need of me." He glanced over her slightly. He could tell that behind the obviously troubled and tired woman standing in front of him there was a beautiful young lady.

"She must have been through a lot to be so tired." He thought. His eyes held some sympathy and care, yet made no move to help her just yet, not until he knew she wanted his help.

[Cella]

Cella’s professional attitude slipped almost as soon as he told her who he was, throwing all out the window, lost, completely and totally lost. She had waited and waited for far too long for an actual Doctor to grace this facility with his or her appearance, and here he was; she started to laugh, an almost insane sort of laugh, only the greatly thankful and most insanely exhausted of people would let out in total relief.

After she got herself under control again, she blushed slightly but once again; she stood before him in total professional manner, though the huge smile on her otherwise exhausted features would tell him just how happy she was to see him.

“Oh thank God.” She replied. “I men, well.. Hello and welcome to..” She motioned with one arm about the hospital. “ … Here.” She finished with a sort of half laugh. “I’m Cella, head Nurse and I can’t tell you how happy I am to see the likes of you.” She went on, her voice showing not but a calm reserve, though bordering quite easily on total and complete exhaustion though she, of course, would not let him see that, or see as little of it as possible. There was no way she could hide the dark circles that surrounded her 18 year-old eyes or her pale features.

“Come, I’ll give you the tour, though you’ll have to excuse the back room, I haven’t had time to straighten it after last weeks fiasco with that Necromancer…” She sighed and shook her head slightly, the pictures once again trying to consume her mind as she held her hand to show him the way, ignoring the burning in her mind that seemed to come every time she remembered that night.

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Faust watched in slight amazement as the nurse burst into laughter. He stood there, slightly shocked, but as she settled down again Faust smiled once more. He could tell that they were in need of help, the whole hospital, and that his new job was going to help with that. He saw her blush and the young doctor grinned.

“I’m Cella, head Nurse and I can’t tell you how happy I am to see the likes of you.”

"So you're the one who has to keep me in line." He joked. "I'll make sure I won't give you so much trouble." He laughed gently. "Not that I wouldn't want to trouble someone who obviously has had to do already so much work." He added thoughtfully.

She took his hand and offered to show him around the hospital, something he greatly appreciated. He had only worked in a two room clinic, the lobby and his office. It was cramped in his old clinic, not compared to the well sized hospital he was in now. It all seemed so much more... official than his old place of business.

“Come, I’ll give you the tour, though you’ll have to excuse the back room, I haven’t had time to straighten it after last weeks fiasco with that Necromancer…”

At the word Necromancer the young man paused, though only for a moment. He had read about a Necromancer attack on a hospital, killing many. He felt an anger rise up in him, but subdued it for the moment. "Thank you, a tour will be greatly appreciated... Miss...?" He left it hanging, waiting for her to fill in her name and correct him if she wasn't, indeed, a Miss.

[Cella]

She gave him one more smile and then began the ‘official; tour of his new place of employment.

“Well, Miss would be correct..” She started as they turned down a hall that led them past a few rooms. “This is the first wing it contains mostly just your usual sick people with viruses and the like nothing too serious in and out these ones usually are…” She continued. “And that would be Narcella Dinarcuss, but please, Cella works just fine.” She stated as she continued to walk with him through the hall, now taking a turn to their left and she pointed out several different rooms, OR and the ER and “This is every nurses favorite…” She smiled at him and then looked inside a small room that contained several very angry babies and she grinned. “They never seem to be happy until they are back with mom…” She stated again and then walked away down yet another hall. “This is the critical ward and through there is my office and over here, to your right, just a few doors down, would be yours” she continued as she grasped the handle and turned it to admit him in.

There were still a few more points she wanted to show him, but figured perhaps he’d like a look at where he’d be spending a lot of his time before they continued their tour. “I know it isn’t much, but.. Well, space is limited and it is the biggest one we’ve got.” She explained as she walked over and opened the heavy curtains to let the morning sun in to light the place better. “You know, now that I think about it, this room isn’t all that bad after all.” She mused out loud, her lavender eyes catching the light as it shown through the window, making them shine for just a moment before she turned her head to gaze at the new Doctor.

The room was indeed not all that large, and contained one desk, a file cabinet with three draws and a slightly old but comfortable looking chair and that was about it. The walls were, of course, painted white, and the floor, unlike the rest of the hospital was done in polished oak that seemed to at least match the desk.

“So, where are you from?” She inquired as she went about lighting the scones about the office to add further light to their conversation.

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She led him down the hall and started to show him all the areas of the hospital. First came the minor afflictions, then the major, then the nursery. Babies always made Faust a little nervous, he was always afraid of doing something wrong and the child bawling. Despite being a good doctor Faust still didn't know much about children and thus was a little nervous when it came to looking after them.

She had given him her name, Narcelle Dinarcuss, Cella for short. It was a good name, he liked it. She seemed kind and gentle, someone he wouldn't mind working with. He gave this some thought as she showed him the other offices and finally his own.

Faust admired his room, it was so big in comparison with his old office. In fact, the room alone could have served as a lobby for the old clinic. He stood there, silently enjoying the feeling of being in a place that had enough resources for him to help others, more than he did before. He brushed his hand against the dest, moved it over the edge to the back of the chair, where he gripped the leather and took in the way it felt.

“So, where are you from?”

Her question broke the momentary silence and Faust snapped back into himself, catching himself daydreaming about his office, the hospital, and other things he'd definitely wouldn't like to have heard outloud, too embarassing. He looked at her gently and replied. "That could mean a few things; where I grew up, where I live now, or where I used to work..." He paused and the doctor smiled. "I'll answer all of those."

"I grew up in the slums, unfortunately, my whole life. I now live in a house on the far side of town, around the corner from that big church on market street. I used to work a few blocks from there at a small, two room clinic, helping the sick and poor." He turned and looked out the window, smiling softly. "Its a wonderful day" He said in closing before returning her question. "And you? Where do you live?"

[Cella]

Cella stood in the middle of his office and waited as he looked about, hoping it was going to be at the very least, ok for him and she seemed to relax when eh finally responded to her question and that smile that had crept up to her lips earlier, once again offered an appearance when he had finished.

“Me? Well, I was born in Karador and lived in a house on the other side of town myself, now however I live just down the street, on the corner of 3rd and Elm.” She responded. My mother works for a local merchant, the very same we get most our potions and med supplies from, by the way…” She continued but then paused as she watched him a bit closer, there was something about him that she couldn’t pin down, something, different, but she shook her head and then continued. “My father passed away last year, well, more came up missing for his body was never found… but, you were the one who tended that little place then? I have heard not but good stories from there, I am very happy to have you with us then.” She grinned, now tearing her gaze from his. “And yes, it is turning out to be a most pleasant day indeed.” She added, turning to walk from his office. “And now, I think it is time I showed you the remainder of your new home away from home.” She finished as she walked out and back into the hall.

Cella definitely liked this man, he seemed so nice, so bright and not at all bad to look at either, definitely would give her and the other girls something to talk about when he wasn’t about, of course. She chuckled slightly to herself as she waited for him to join her again. Still though, there was definitely something about him that she couldn’t quite pin down, something he wasn’t telling her but, she shrugged it off as her exhaustion playing tricks with her mind again and that was that.

AS she stood waiting for him however, a huge surge of memories of that horrid night flashed in her minds eyes again, causing her to fall against the wall, forcing her mind to watch it over again and a searing pain to flash through her head as well. She took a shuddering breath and closed her eyes tightly, moving her hands to her head and allowed herself to slide down the smooth wall into a sitting position as tears began to run down her cheeks again with the grizzly sights she was forced to watch over and over again.

[Deleted]

She told him about herself slightly. She heard good things about his work, that was, most certainly, a wonderful surprise. He saw her patiently waiting for him, watching him. He sighed, he realized he was probably looking like a child in a candy shop, but he couldn't help it. This was his idea of a perfect day.

Then he turned and noticed something was wrong with Cella. He turned just in time to see her put her hands to her head and start to slide down the wall into a heap on the floor. In a flash Faust was there, looking over her with concern. He lifted her bodily in a single stroke and carried her from his office to the lobby in a matter of seconds, and lay her down on a soft, cushoned bench.

He gripped Cella's hand firmly. "Cella... Cella it'll be okay, everything will be okay. Don't panic, don't cry... just try to stay calm..." He whispered to her comfortingly. "Please, come on." He undid her apron slightly, making sure it wasn't too tight to prevent breathing problems, he did the same with anything around her neck. Afterwards he couldn't do anything more than hold her hand and give what little support he could.

[Cella]

Cella noticed she had been lifted from the floor though her eyes remained tightly shut she could see Faust carry her to the lobby and even watched as he lay her down and loosen her apron and top most buttons from her shirt, all this she saw with her eyes shut, as well as the pictures that played still through her head.

She lay there for several long moments, her tears dried up as he spoke to her though she still refused to open her eyes but, she did begin to relax a slight bit as her mind began to let her rest, her breathing slowed, and she may have even given his hand a small squeeze as she lay there, her eyes shut for several more moments before finally, after what seemed an eternity, she slowly opened them.

A flash of violet that filled the room for not more than a second erupted the moment she opened her eyes, though she, didn’t notice it and then, she turned her head away from him and took a long shuddering breath. “I.. I’m sorry.” She apologized for her little laps of weakness, as she would thin k of it. “I guess, I’m just.. a little tired.” She finished, as she began to sit up again. Mistake number one, she immediately regretted as the searing pain that swept through her head before began anew and she winced, closed her eyes again she lay back down almost instantly.

“Ok, may more than a little.” She gave a weak half laugh.

She was more than a bit embarrassed to have had a moment like this in front of him, anyone for that matter but the new Doctor, and the day was proving to be such a good one too. She silently cursed herself as she laid there, her eyes shut to the lights in the room and, the embracement she felt at this point.

[Deleted]

Faust nearly fell over when the violet flash was sent through the room. His head swung left and right to find whatever gave it off, oblivious to the fact that it could have possibly been the woman in front of him. He was completely preoccupied with that until she spoke, in which all his attention snapped back on her.

“I guess, I’m just.. a little tired.”

Faust nodded, but froze when she tried getting up. She looked like she was in pain. The doctor leaned forward and gave her a quick message, "I'm going to let go of your hand for a few seconds, I'll be back for you in a tiny bit." He let her go and went to the door and promptly put a sign up on the door that read 'Emergancy: Closed' and walked back to Cella.

Faust held on to the nurse's hand again and gently lifted her up, supporting her head, which seemed to be the source of her pain. He carried her to a small room by his office and lay her down on the bed. He brushed a tiny bit of her hair out of her eyes and, using one hand, searched a cabinate for anything to releive headaches. When he found a bottle he held it to her lips and he saw some flow down her into her mouth. "Everything'll be fine." He murmured as he began to dim the lights so that it was nearly dark in the room. "You feel better?" He asked.

[Cella]

"I'm going to let go of your hand for a few seconds, I'll be back for you in a tiny bit."

His words echoed in her mind, reverberated off her very skull it seemed as her head continued to pound and then, he had let go of her hand and she felt alone, and scared suddenly for the first time. Then he was back and he seemed to be lifting her again, she barely noticed things at this point, her head pounding harder with his every step, every noise, the lights, everything as if it were intensified tenfold in her mind. She just wanted it all to stop, go away everything and then she was laying on a bed, she knew this much, could see it in her mind and as well, watched as he fumbled through the cabinets to find something, though she didn’t want to focus on it, she tried to block out the sights, all the clinking, it was all so loud. Something pressed against her lips and she allowed the bitter tasting liquid to enter and swallowed then the lights dimmed.

"You feel better?"

His words sounded, though this time they seemed so far away as if he was across the room and whispering, though she knew he was right there. The pictures dimmed as well, she couldn’t see him any more, couldn’t see herself laying on the bed, but she could feel him still there and she took in a deep breath and smiled slightly and nodded slowly. “Ya..a little” She whispered though still not daring to open her eyes or try and move for that matter.

[Deleted]

Faust dimmed the lights a little more and sighed, kneeling by where Cerra lay. He took her hand and smiled gently. "You know, you gave me quite a scare there." He told her. "You looked like you were going to have some sort of fit..." He gave her hand a slight squeeze and sighed. "but you're okay now." He rested his head on the edge of the couch by her stomach, resting after having such a big scare.

"Goodness." He thought, even his voice inside his head sounded frightened and tired. "That sure was an interesting first half an hour" He sighed, audibly and shut his eyes. His heart was still racing and he could feel a few drops of sweat on his brow.

He wiped his forehead and turned his head so he was facing Cella. Faust opened his eyes and looked at her gently. "You know... you should really get some rest." He advised. "Doctor's orders you know." He smiled and lifted his head from the couch. "But something tells me you're going to dislike that idea." He grinned and took her hand again comfortingly.

[Cella]

Cella lay on the bed as he spoke to her, her mind turning numb from the drugged state but she still heard his thoughts, though thought he had spoke them and she smiled slightly through the fog that settled over her and turned her head and opened her eyes in a lazy, almost drugged manner and gazed at him as he lay his head down next to her.

“Indeed, the last half hour was interesting…and no, I will lay here for a bit, until whatever it is wears off but then I still have all those papers to sort through..” She said in the most quiet of whispers that he wouldn’t have heard had he not been so close.

After a bit, her lids, too heavy to hold open any longer closed, despite her fight to keep them open and soon, her chest began to rise and fall in that rhythmic state that only the sleeping could manage and her mind slipped into darkness. The drug he gave her was doing its job well, suppressing even the lightest of thoughts or memories, she had drifted off into a most needed dreamless darkness where rest was forced upon her mind and when she would awake, if all went well, the Doctor would have accomplished what he set out to do, but though neither of them knew it, the drug would more than likely work a bit differently, as she definitely was something more than human, and as the medication was meant for human use, there was no telling if it would have an adverse effect as of yet or not. Only time would tell now.

[Deleted]

Faust watched her pass into the world of sleep, seeing over her as her breathing evened out and her eyes shut. He smiled, removing her apron and folded it, placing it beside the couch. He quietly retrieved more headache medicine and put it with Cella's apron, just in case she woke up and the pain was still there. Faust went to the lobby and picked up his coat, brought it back and draped it over his head nurse's body, to keep her warm. "Pleasent dreams." He whispered to the long asleep woman.

Faust walked back to the lobby and took down the sign he had put up a while ago. He sighed. "Not a good start to my first day, having to close the hospital down... hospitals should never be closed." He sat down behind the desk and looked at the clock, it was still early, luckily nobody needed his serviced this early. He would take over Cella's duties until another came on duty.

“Indeed, the last half hour was interesting…and no, I will lay here for a bit, until whatever it is wears off but then I still have all those papers to sort through..”

Faust froze. "Did... I think outloud?" He asked himself, slightly uneasy. He looked back to the room where Cella slept, a strange look on his face.