Kurt and Madelyn, Tuesday morning
Nov. 16th, 2004 08:47 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsShe brings him coffee in the greenhouse and they talk about Alison and Jono before arranging to go to the movies sometime soon.
She hadn't realised the greenhouse was so peaceful. Which made sense, she supposed, since plants weren't generally known to be noisy. It was easy to understand why Kurt tended to retreat here in the mansion's frequent stressful periods. Madelyn just hoped she wasn't interrupting. But then again, she came bearing coffee, so who could be offended by that. Rounding a particularly verdant tree fern, she smiled as she saw him sitting in that distinctive crouch of his, up on one of the large rafters criss-crossing the greenhouse roof.
"Morning!" she called up to him. "Can I interest you in some coffee?"
He started slightly when she spoke, having not heard her coming, deep in thought, but then smiled down at her. "Good morning, Madelyn. Coffee would be very good, yes." And he stood up as best he could on the rafter and bamfed down next to her.
"Sorry to interrupt. I figured I'd return the favour, seeing how you've brought me coffee often enough. If you're busy I can just..." She half turned, back towards the way she had come.
He shook his head hastily, before she left. "No, not at all. Please, stay. Join me on my rafter, even, if you like", he finished mischievously.
She laughed, looking up at the spot. "A bit early in the morning for me," she said. "But maybe next time?" Instead she took a seat on a nearby bench, patting the seat beside her. "I wanted to thank you, for the other night. For a very nice dinner, and for the escort home." There was a faint blush to her cheeks as she remembered just some of the stuff she'd been saying. "Ah, I hope I didn't say anything too embarrassing."
He sat down with her readily, with a reassuring smile. "Nothing too embarrassing, no. Or at least, I did not think so. And it is not as if you drank very much, really - you could not help the lowering of your usual tolerance."
"Well, at least I had enough sense not to go on the journals, but still, I should have taken that into account. Especially with driving..." She stopped herself with a wry smile. "I'll stop before I sound like a complete neurotic. How have you been?"
He shrugged slightly. "Fairly well, really. Especially now that Alison is doing so much better. It was a worry..."
"And then some," she agreed. "She's got a long road ahead of her, but at least she's on it." Taking a small sip of coffee from her mug - it was still hot - she went on. "It's going to be hard; she's in almost constant pain, and will be for a while yet."
"But she will be well", he said quietly. "Long road or not, its end will come. There was a time when I was not sure..."
"Neither was I." It was a difficult thing for a doctor to admit, and she said it softly, but she did say it. "Thank God she proved us all wrong."
He nodded. "Indeed. She has such strength, Alison... and Miles, too. Count on it, he will do all he can to help her through this. To have learned, so young, to control his power so completely just so that he could be near her without doing her harm..."
"You should have seen him bringing us food and telling us to go to sleep down in the lab..." Madelyn's smile grew fond. "He's an amazing little guy, he really is."
Kurt smiled back. "Yes, he is. And how are the other children doing lately? I do not spend as much time in the mansion proper as I probably should..."
"You're asking one of the Dungeon Dwellers about the rest of the mansion?" Madelyn chuckled. "Um, they've been healthy enough, since I haven't seen any of them in the medlab. Shiro's been taking care of his sister - I almost feel sorry for anything that tries to happen to her..."
Kurt chuckled. "I think the same could be said for any of the school's younger children. The people here have a tendency towards protectiveness, which is only right, of course..."
"Very true." Sipping her coffee again and finding it closer to drinkable temperature, she gave a contented sigh and leaned back. "I can see why you come here. It's very peaceful."
"I have always enjoyed it. It is almost a shame more of the mansion's residents do not seem to know it is here - although then, I suppose, it would not be so peaceful. Wanda comes here to meditate, I believe, to keep her powers in order."
"Alison was trying to get me into tai chi, before..." Madelyn shrugged. "I'd still like to get involved, if I could just get away for five minutes. Something tells me some kind of stress relief would be a good idea, considering..."
"Perhaps now that Hank is back, that might be possible?" he suggested. "And you should, perhaps, try to spend more time out of the house or at least out of the Dungeon, now that you are not the only qualified MD here."
"Ugh, you would think so, wouldn't you? But no, the place finds new and exciting ways to keep us busy. Jono exploding's kept Hank and Moira pretty much locked into research mode, which leaves me to take care of the more mundane patients..." Madelyn gave a short laugh. "No, I've given up even contemplating escape. Until Thanksgiving, at least - Moira's threatened me with horrible Scottish vengeance if I don't go home."
Kurt chuckled a little. "Horrible Scottish vengeance? Well, you had better go, then." He quickly became more serious, though, and added, "Is there any word on things with Jono? And how are his friends taking it?"
"No change on Jono - he's conscious and responding, and his mind seems intact, just not his body... I had to sedate Paige Sunday night. Angelo seems to be all right, although I haven't really seen him." Madelyn looked pensive. "I'm going to have to chase him down, Paige too, probably. Clarice is upset, but seems to be dealing relatively well - I had her with me in medlab Sunday night, gave her something to help her sleep..." She looked at Kurt, slightly worried. "I seem to be drugging half the mansion's residents. That can't be good."
He nodded sadly. "If it is the best way to ensure their continued health, mental or physical, it is what you have to do. It does say something disturbing that it is so often necessary, though."
"Oh, I wouldn't do it if I didn't have to. The incident with the dart gun aside, I do try and avoid drugging people if it's at all possible." Madelyn's tone was resigned, rather than annoyed. "Still, if I have to, I have to."
"We can only hope things will calm enough that you do not have to any more", Kurt answered. "That said, based on precedent..."
"Ugh, depressing thought. Why is it that's all I can think about lately, the next disaster?" She rolled her eyes a little at herself. "I do have other conversation, really I do. I think medlab ate my brain."
"Perhaps it is time for another kidnapping?" he suggested lightly. "You still owe me one dinner, remember - or we could do something else, perhaps. Theresa suggested The Incredibles..."
"The superhero animation?" Madelyn perked visibly. "I got an email from Carlie demanding that I see this, otherwise I would be consigned forever to the Land of the Dull and Boring." She gave Kurt an almost pleading look. "Can we? Please? I know it's your choice, but I need to laugh, I really do, before I forget how."
He smiled. "Of course we can. To make you laugh, and to save you from the dull and boring in your sister's estimation."
"My hero." Madelyn chuckled, then glanced at her watch. "Shoot, I need to be on duty in five minutes - I'm afraid I'm going to have to vent and run. Email me with movie listings?"
"I will", he promised. "By tonight, if you like."
"No rush, but thank you." She gave his shoulder a pat as she stood, and held out her hand for the empty coffee mug. "I'll have to come up here more often. Whining and all, I do feel better." She grinned. "Although that could be the company rather than the environment."
He smiled. "I am glad to hear it. It is a good place to spend time, I have always found. And if I can help, I am glad of that too."
"Oh, you always help, Kurt." There was going to be more, but then the Dread Beeper sounded, and she shrugged helplessly. "Duty calls. I'll talk to you later," she said, and headed back briskly the way she had come.
She hadn't realised the greenhouse was so peaceful. Which made sense, she supposed, since plants weren't generally known to be noisy. It was easy to understand why Kurt tended to retreat here in the mansion's frequent stressful periods. Madelyn just hoped she wasn't interrupting. But then again, she came bearing coffee, so who could be offended by that. Rounding a particularly verdant tree fern, she smiled as she saw him sitting in that distinctive crouch of his, up on one of the large rafters criss-crossing the greenhouse roof.
"Morning!" she called up to him. "Can I interest you in some coffee?"
He started slightly when she spoke, having not heard her coming, deep in thought, but then smiled down at her. "Good morning, Madelyn. Coffee would be very good, yes." And he stood up as best he could on the rafter and bamfed down next to her.
"Sorry to interrupt. I figured I'd return the favour, seeing how you've brought me coffee often enough. If you're busy I can just..." She half turned, back towards the way she had come.
He shook his head hastily, before she left. "No, not at all. Please, stay. Join me on my rafter, even, if you like", he finished mischievously.
She laughed, looking up at the spot. "A bit early in the morning for me," she said. "But maybe next time?" Instead she took a seat on a nearby bench, patting the seat beside her. "I wanted to thank you, for the other night. For a very nice dinner, and for the escort home." There was a faint blush to her cheeks as she remembered just some of the stuff she'd been saying. "Ah, I hope I didn't say anything too embarrassing."
He sat down with her readily, with a reassuring smile. "Nothing too embarrassing, no. Or at least, I did not think so. And it is not as if you drank very much, really - you could not help the lowering of your usual tolerance."
"Well, at least I had enough sense not to go on the journals, but still, I should have taken that into account. Especially with driving..." She stopped herself with a wry smile. "I'll stop before I sound like a complete neurotic. How have you been?"
He shrugged slightly. "Fairly well, really. Especially now that Alison is doing so much better. It was a worry..."
"And then some," she agreed. "She's got a long road ahead of her, but at least she's on it." Taking a small sip of coffee from her mug - it was still hot - she went on. "It's going to be hard; she's in almost constant pain, and will be for a while yet."
"But she will be well", he said quietly. "Long road or not, its end will come. There was a time when I was not sure..."
"Neither was I." It was a difficult thing for a doctor to admit, and she said it softly, but she did say it. "Thank God she proved us all wrong."
He nodded. "Indeed. She has such strength, Alison... and Miles, too. Count on it, he will do all he can to help her through this. To have learned, so young, to control his power so completely just so that he could be near her without doing her harm..."
"You should have seen him bringing us food and telling us to go to sleep down in the lab..." Madelyn's smile grew fond. "He's an amazing little guy, he really is."
Kurt smiled back. "Yes, he is. And how are the other children doing lately? I do not spend as much time in the mansion proper as I probably should..."
"You're asking one of the Dungeon Dwellers about the rest of the mansion?" Madelyn chuckled. "Um, they've been healthy enough, since I haven't seen any of them in the medlab. Shiro's been taking care of his sister - I almost feel sorry for anything that tries to happen to her..."
Kurt chuckled. "I think the same could be said for any of the school's younger children. The people here have a tendency towards protectiveness, which is only right, of course..."
"Very true." Sipping her coffee again and finding it closer to drinkable temperature, she gave a contented sigh and leaned back. "I can see why you come here. It's very peaceful."
"I have always enjoyed it. It is almost a shame more of the mansion's residents do not seem to know it is here - although then, I suppose, it would not be so peaceful. Wanda comes here to meditate, I believe, to keep her powers in order."
"Alison was trying to get me into tai chi, before..." Madelyn shrugged. "I'd still like to get involved, if I could just get away for five minutes. Something tells me some kind of stress relief would be a good idea, considering..."
"Perhaps now that Hank is back, that might be possible?" he suggested. "And you should, perhaps, try to spend more time out of the house or at least out of the Dungeon, now that you are not the only qualified MD here."
"Ugh, you would think so, wouldn't you? But no, the place finds new and exciting ways to keep us busy. Jono exploding's kept Hank and Moira pretty much locked into research mode, which leaves me to take care of the more mundane patients..." Madelyn gave a short laugh. "No, I've given up even contemplating escape. Until Thanksgiving, at least - Moira's threatened me with horrible Scottish vengeance if I don't go home."
Kurt chuckled a little. "Horrible Scottish vengeance? Well, you had better go, then." He quickly became more serious, though, and added, "Is there any word on things with Jono? And how are his friends taking it?"
"No change on Jono - he's conscious and responding, and his mind seems intact, just not his body... I had to sedate Paige Sunday night. Angelo seems to be all right, although I haven't really seen him." Madelyn looked pensive. "I'm going to have to chase him down, Paige too, probably. Clarice is upset, but seems to be dealing relatively well - I had her with me in medlab Sunday night, gave her something to help her sleep..." She looked at Kurt, slightly worried. "I seem to be drugging half the mansion's residents. That can't be good."
He nodded sadly. "If it is the best way to ensure their continued health, mental or physical, it is what you have to do. It does say something disturbing that it is so often necessary, though."
"Oh, I wouldn't do it if I didn't have to. The incident with the dart gun aside, I do try and avoid drugging people if it's at all possible." Madelyn's tone was resigned, rather than annoyed. "Still, if I have to, I have to."
"We can only hope things will calm enough that you do not have to any more", Kurt answered. "That said, based on precedent..."
"Ugh, depressing thought. Why is it that's all I can think about lately, the next disaster?" She rolled her eyes a little at herself. "I do have other conversation, really I do. I think medlab ate my brain."
"Perhaps it is time for another kidnapping?" he suggested lightly. "You still owe me one dinner, remember - or we could do something else, perhaps. Theresa suggested The Incredibles..."
"The superhero animation?" Madelyn perked visibly. "I got an email from Carlie demanding that I see this, otherwise I would be consigned forever to the Land of the Dull and Boring." She gave Kurt an almost pleading look. "Can we? Please? I know it's your choice, but I need to laugh, I really do, before I forget how."
He smiled. "Of course we can. To make you laugh, and to save you from the dull and boring in your sister's estimation."
"My hero." Madelyn chuckled, then glanced at her watch. "Shoot, I need to be on duty in five minutes - I'm afraid I'm going to have to vent and run. Email me with movie listings?"
"I will", he promised. "By tonight, if you like."
"No rush, but thank you." She gave his shoulder a pat as she stood, and held out her hand for the empty coffee mug. "I'll have to come up here more often. Whining and all, I do feel better." She grinned. "Although that could be the company rather than the environment."
He smiled. "I am glad to hear it. It is a good place to spend time, I have always found. And if I can help, I am glad of that too."
"Oh, you always help, Kurt." There was going to be more, but then the Dread Beeper sounded, and she shrugged helplessly. "Duty calls. I'll talk to you later," she said, and headed back briskly the way she had come.
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Date: 2004-11-17 05:20 am (UTC)Deeeeeeeeeeeense!
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Date: 2004-11-17 09:06 am (UTC)Turnabout is fair play, thank you very much!
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