Hank & JPB | Monday Morning

[x-quebecois.livejournal.com]

Jean-Paul stops by to speak with Hank about getting a refill for his prescription and they discuss other things as well.


Jean-Paul rapped on Hank's office door and peered inside, not quite sure what he was going to find so far as the other mutant was concerned. He knew from the journals that the doctor had been injured, he just wasn't quite sure whether the man would be in something akin to a full-body cast or something else ridiculous like that. After all, it took a great deal to pull Hank away from his work and the Quebecois had had to reschedule his appointment, which meant the doctor's injuries were at least moderately severe. "Bonjour?" He said, head tipped slightly to the side.

He was not, as his patient had theorized, in a full body cast. Rather, Hank simply sat at his desk, going over a stack of files while several hard covered books sat open on the surface. Looking up, Hank's new 'shaggy' look- which many had likened to the mane of a lion- flopped slightly as he smiled and waved Jean-Paul inside, "Jean-Paul, glad we could reschedule on such short notice. I had considered," he hefted himself up with a grunt, supporting himself with a metal cane, "perhaps asking a colleague to stand in, but thought that you may not appreciate that." His lab coat was bare beneath save for the fresh, off-white bandages wrapped around his midsection. "That and Jean was fairly swamped with our wounded," Hank shrugged and motioned for his patient to sit.

"Merci," Jean-Paul said, taking a seat quickly in the hopes that Hank would, himself, sit down. Before he fell over. Because the Quebecois wasn't entirely sure that he'd be any help at all when it came to catching the other man before he hit the ground. Chances were he'd wind up squished with blue hair up his nose and that... was not exactly how he wanted to spend the rest of his afternoon. Smiling a little, he said, "This will not take so long, I do not think. It is only that, as I told you before, the medicines seem to be working very well. It has been several weeks since I have had a nightmare that caused a concussive blast."

Hank gently eased himself back into his seat, "That's wonderful news, and I think I read that you'd started some triggering exercises with Doctor Grey-Summers, oui?" The doctor pulled a file out of the middle of the stack, glanced at it and tossed it to the side before grabbing another. Seemingly more satisfied with this one he began to scribble notes in a tidy scrawl on the pages within.

"Oui," Jean-Paul said, quirking a smile. "But these... they did not go so well. It is easy to trigger one when I am scared, but not so easy otherwise. And it was difficult to become angry with her in the Danger Room, so... we have not tried again to trigger a concussive blast. It has been several months."

"A man should not be governed by his fears," Hank said with a nod, setting the file down and scratching an itch on his chin. "How are you feeling otherwise...healthwise I mean."

"Good," Jean-Paul said, nodding. "I am sleeping more. It is better sleep, I think. And I am busy with work as well, which is good also. My therapy with the doctor in Salem Center, it seems to be... going, I think." Though talking to therapists had never really been high on Jean-Paul's list of enjoyable afternoon pursuits. He found it difficult to talk about things with the man and so, more often than not, hedged around his actual issues rather than addressing the directly. This meant he hadn't had any kind of breakthroughs, but considering that his nightmares seemed to be fading, he didn't think he really needed to have any breakthroughs. Maybe the nightmares would simply go away on their own.

"That is simply excellent to hear," Hank smiled and scrawled some other notes. "Any side effects from the drugs?"

"I am tired sometimes, in the mornings. Like it is taking me longer to truly be awake. And so sometimes I do not go for my morning exercises like I used to, but I do not mind so much. It is nicer without the nightmares and so I will give up the morning routine if that is what it takes." Jean-Paul had been surprised when he started sleeping longer and later, but he wasn't going to complain. Maybe it was just his body's way of catching up on all the sleep he hadn't been having after he'd initially left Muir.

"That's a fairly common side effect and you've gained acceptance of it rather quickly," Hank spread his hands, letting the file drop, "I'm impressed, sir. You are still exercising though, correct?"

"Oui," Jean-Paul said, full-on smiling now. "Chasing after men who have, as they say, jumped bail? This counts as exercise, does it not?"

Hank chuckled and nodded, "I had heard you were working with Miss Carslyle in her business venture. I offered her my services in the area of forensics as necessary, but as of yet have not had a request from her just yet. All other things being what they are, Jean-Paul, I am glad that you are feeling better. You should have, something like a month's supply of medication left," Hank raised a brow at him.

Nodding, Jean-Paul said, "Oui. Through the end of March. I had come to ask for another prescription for next month as well as for the check up."

"How would you feel about stepping down the dosage for April and seeing how it works out?" Hank steepled his fingers before himself on the desk, wincing slightly as he moved his core.

"Stepping down the dosage?" Jean-Paul tipped his head to the side a little. He wasn't sure why they should step it down. Well, that wasn't entirely true - he knew, in theory, that addiction could occur or he could build up a tolerance to the medication itself. And he could understand why those things were undesirable. But at the same time... it worked for now and he didn't want to go back to the way things had been before. Of course, Hank had said they'd see how it worked, so he wouldn't have to continue at the decreased dosage if it didn't work. "I... think we can see, as you say. You are the doctor, after all."

"That I am," he said, spreading his hand, palm up over the desk. "We will see how it works and if your symptoms start to return, you know where to find me to increase your dosage."

Smiling a little ruefully, Jean-Paul nodded. "Oui, I do. Standing up, he offered Hank his hand. "Merci, mon ami."

Hank shook it and smiled with a little nod, "Anytime, Monsiuer."