Moira does the doctor thing with Paige

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Last night. Moira takes some blood for testing, Paige tells her she missed her. Moira tells her she missed her too, Paige does not take any of Moira's blood. Then they go down to the labs.


Moira flipped through the file marked "Guthrie, Paige" and glanced up. "Nice ta see an almost empty MedLab file," she remarked, a little dryly. Paige sat on the couch in her office and looked up at her. "I jus' want ta take some samples from ye, run them through a few tests...make sure nothin' messed wit' yer powers." Also, she wanted to make sure everyone came out of this mentally okay as well.

“Of course, ma’am,” Paige replied with a smile, looking up at her. She’d left in one of her hair braids on the left side and there was an odd new look in her eyes, but otherwise, in her old clothes, she looked just the same. Even after all the time she’d spent in the sun she still managed her cream complexion, with not an extra freckle to be seen. That was the good thing about a skin mutation, she supposed; it wouldn’t change. “Would you like my left or right arm?”

Cheerful was always a good sign. "Either one will do." When Paige extended her arm, Moira quickly wiped a spot with an alchol pad. "'ow're ye doin', lass, wit' everythin'?" she asked, reaching for the needle on the table next to them. Honestly, she preferred doing this in her office, it was much more comfortable than the MedLab rooms.


Paige adjusted her sleeve as Moira talked, watching the procedure with a sort of distant look that one regards something they’ve seen countless times before. She’d learned how to give herself blood tests after every new husk to check up on things long ago, but it was still nice to have someone else do it, not to mention listening to Moira. “All right. Glad to get some things back for certain.”

"Aye, I bet it 'tis." The time difference still startled her and it was hard wrapping her brain around the fact that, to them, it had been months instead of their week. "We're damned glad tha' ye all are safe an' sound," Moira said, softly, as she withdrew the needle and recapped it.

“It’s good to be home, Moira,” Paige returned, looking up at the older woman with an expression that melted off the hard lines of her cheekbones. Trying a smile that would take some adjustment, as it didn’t quite fit her face anymore, she continued. “I missed you.”

Reaching over, she put a gentle hand on Paige's shoulder. "Ye were verra missed, trust me on tha' one." The sleepless and worry filled nights flashed through her nights and she suddenly felt more tired and more relieved than she had been allowing herself to feel for a while.

Paige tried the smile again, finding it fit this time, and slipped a hand on top of Moira’s. “Thank you.” She’d had a lot of time to think of what if she never got home again, because, as much as she’d been blessed to be this fortunate here, it wasn’t home. Yet, she didn’t think she’d have cared so much if she’d at least known at that everyone was okay. “That means a lot.”

Moira watched her for a few seconds and smiled. "Jus' 'ope ye know tha' 'tis okay ta, well, nay be okay after everythin' ye lot went through," she pointed out, squeezing her shoulder. "We're 'ere for ye an' God knows we want ye ta be okay after everythin'. Physically and mentally."

“I know,” Paige said quietly, slipping her hand off Moira’s to fold gently with her other one in her lap. “I know,” she repeated, nodding bravely. “Just a little shaken but not quite stirred. I promise, I’ll be okay. Just very thankful to be home.”

"I can only imagine. Th' waitin' was verra 'ard but I know it must 'ave been ten times worse in yer position." Again, she was reminded of how much of her she saw in Paige. There were things she wanted to encourage but also wanted to teach her safeguards as well. Sometimes, that drive was counterproductive to ones health.

Paige only shrugged a little, looking down at the floor with her remnant of a smile. “Hey, I made it back. We all made it back. That’s all that matters.” Raising her eyes, she looked in Moira’s face for some kind of confirmation that it, no, she was going to be okay. Instead, she found a sort of wistful, protective stare, but that was just as good.

"I 'ave ta disagree wit' tha'," Moira said, voice soft again. "But I think, in time, ye all will be okay. Yer verra resourceful, as wha' ye jus' went through shows. An' verra stron'."

“If you say so, I’ll believe it,” Paige replied, giving her a Girl Scout grin. She unfolded her sleeves over her wrists again and tilted her head. “Are you going to make me say ah now?”

She snickered slightly. "Nay, tha's Maddie's cheerful dutie. If ye ask nice, she might even warm up th' instruments for ye."

“Lucky her. I’m sure she’s very excited and bribeable.” Paige pushed her hair behind her right ear, a flush coming to her cheeks. “Then are we, I’m very sad to say, done? You have quite a few little vials of blood to collect if the numbers in my head are correct.”

"Aye, th' tests are done." Moira hesitated, a little surprised at what looked like slight disappointment cross Paige's face before disappearing. She thought for a second. "Though I am now goin' ta one o' th' labs ta run tests...I wouldnae mind th' company if'n ye wouldna mind givin' it."

Paige probably couldn’t have beamed any brighter. “I’d love that. Not quite ready to give you up anyway. Not to mention I’d like to reacquaint myself with the lovely, lovely facilities.”

Laughing, Moira turned to gather everything up that she needed to take with her as Paige got up for the chair. Reaching around, she surprised the younger woman by drawing her into a quick, one-armed hug. "Good, reacquaintin' ye is a good thin'," she said, enjoying the enthusastic and happy smile she got. It was good that it was getting easier for her to do that.