"Who takes care of you?"
Claire Saunders took a sharp breath as Echo's hand stretched out towards her. She lifted her own, intending to intercept the doll, but found herself pausing as the other woman traced her scars delicately, briefly. Claire shuddered and stepped back, folding in on herself slightly. Too close. Too personal.
"Did I do something wrong?" Echo sounded genuinely concerned.
Claire glared. She had never felt particularly comfortable around Echo, though she couldn't lay her finger on why. Perhaps it was the seemingly innate curiousity that landed the young woman in places she wasn't meant to be. Or maybe it was the intuition she possessed that was positively undoll-like.
Deep down she knew it was neither of these things. It was something uglier, more visceral.
Claire didn't like her baser instincts. She liked things clinical, clean. Easily categorised. Echo wasn't easily categorised and neither were Claire's feelings towards her. Yet another reason on Claire's list of things to dislike about her.
"I try to be my best" Echo's voice sounded again in earnest, moving Claire out of her reverie.
Claire smiled tightly, picking up her container of lollipops. "What colour would you like?" She questioned, offering one to her patient.
Echo chose red and opened it delicately. "You're nice!" she proclaimed, sticking it in her mouth and swinging her legs happily under the exam table.
This series of actions irritated Claire for some unknown reason and she snatched a lollipop for herself off the desk, yanked off the wrapper and shoved it into her mouth viciously.
Echo's smile faded as though she knew the doctor's frustration was related to her.
Claire noticed and sighed. It really wasn't fair to take it out on Echo that she had some unreasonable aversion to her. She took a large breath and smiled pleasantly. "Echo, would you like a massage?"
The other woman frowned. "You don't like me" she commented slowly, as though comprehension of this fact was causing great effort.
Claire's stomach clenched. "I..." she scrunched her eyes shut, searching for an explanation. She opened her eyes and gasped to find Echo right in front of her, looking at her earnestly.
"I like you"
Claire turned away, not looking at her. "It's not your fault." It came out quietly, painfully. She was meant to care for all of her patients, and she did, deeply. There was just something about Echo that made her feel...It was like the fight or flight response, she realised. Echo came into the room and she wanted to run and hide. Stay safe. It wasn't even Echo, it was an association with her presence.
"You're not your best" Echo pointed out gently, placing a hand delicately on Claire's upper arm. It took everything Claire had not to jerk away.
"No" she murmured, shutting her eyes again.
"Echo?" The door slid open slightly to reveal Boyd.
"Dr. Saunders is not her best." Echo informed him, her hand still resting gently on Claire's arm.
Boyd moved into the room with an air of concern. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing" Claire pulled away from Echo's touch and Boyd's worried eyes and fell into her desk chair. "I'm fine"
"Hmm" Boyd's look of scepticism said everything, but he turned his attention to Echo. "The physiotherapist is waiting for you."
Echo's gaze pulled away from the Doctor and focused on him. "Something fell on me" she commented benignly.
"Yes, and the physiotherapist is outside waiting for you" Boyd explained patiently, guiding her in the direction of the door.
"Alright" Echo agreed affably, casting a last, concerned look at the Doctor before disappearing out the door in front of her handler.
Claire crumpled onto her desk the moment the door shut behind them.