Set between All or Nothing chapters 18 (D.I.V.O.R.C.E) AND 19 (Emergency Redirect).
Jay sat at the front desk, typing his report from the last physical he'd done. Movement caught his eye, but he didn't look up to acknowledge the Hotel team's FNG. There was a report that needed doing and plenty of other medical staff to take care of him.
The newcomer leant against the counter with a small smirk, "G'day Jay-jay, what's new?"
"Not much… Mount Everest of paperwork, 's about it," Jay shrugged, he only paused a moment to look at the operator, "What is it?"
"Just here to see Milne, got another check up on my war wounds from Mexico, y'know? She was a little concerned about muscle scar tissue..." Shade looked to either side of him, and leant in conspiratorially, "I think it's just an excuse for the doc to get her hands on me, heh…"
Jay rolled his eyes, "Uh-huh… Well given Hotel's reputation it probably will not be the last. Hopefully. But probably not." He looked back at his screen and made a few more notes before closing the file and submitting it.
"Heh, yeah, knowing our luck, that's probably true. I'm sure you hear enough of it from bloody Chemmy, right?" Shade said with a chuckle, shifting his weight on the bench.
"Him and personal experience," Jay muttered, "Milne's waiting for you," he pointed behind him, "Third door."
Shade frowned a little, put off by how un-engaged Jay was with his little banter, but shrugged it off internally as he started his way down the hall. "Cheers Jay-Jay. If anyone is looking for me, I'm on a date with the doc… if it's Dash, say that I'm seeing a man about a dog…"
Jay rolled his eyes once more, he'd seen the man was incredibly… social, but all the chat, put him off. It distracted him from things that needed doing and there were a shit ton of things that needed doing. Like he'd said, Mount Everest of paperwork. And he was apparently the only one free enough to climb it. Not that he considered being stuck behind a desk very 'free'.
Shade grimaced as he wiped off the goopy ultrasound fluid from the back of his thigh, pausing a little to study the small nine millimeter circular scar that was underneath. A souvenir from his brief time in Mexico, he supposed. Just another addition to the many he'd sustained in his career.
"So, how's it lookin' Doc?" He asked, internally yelling 'Oh baby a triple' after throwing the balled-up paper towel into the bin successfully.
"All in all, nothing to be concerned about. Your little run around the Monaco coastline hasn't done anything to stress that muscle group further, and whatever scarring that is there will fade more with time. Just be a little more mindful when exercising that particular region," Second Lieutenant Milne said as she peeled off her gloves, "lest we be seeing you back here."
"Copy that," Shade nodded in understanding, picking up his pants and re-dressing himself, "Hey, I gotta ask you… what's the deal with Jay-Jay out front? Like, I know you medics can be a cold lot, but he's exceptionally frosty. Makes damn Chemo look like a bonfire."
"Jay? He used to be a combat doc 'till he got sidelined. He's always been a little… distant," She answered simply, "Why do you ask?"
Shade sat in thought for a few moments before answering, "Well, there's being distant, and there's being a right prick. Like, take our return from across the border, right? He gave me this hostile vibe when he was looking over Dash and I, me especially…" He shook his head, "I mean, I can understand resentment for being benched and not seeing any action, but I don't think this is just simple resentment… what did he do to get benched, if you don't mind me askin'?"
Milne bit her lip lightly and crossed her arms, "Jay doesn't resent anyone, not that I know of. And he's been benched a while besides that, happened about a year before they brought you in. Took some hits, muscle and nerve damage, has a bit of a limp now but honestly it's nothing that would've benched him. I think it was when Shepherd had a psych rundown on him."
Shade let out a low whistle and winced slightly, "He was facing an 'eight'?" He asked softly, referring to the old 'Section Eight' discharge, generally used for mentally unfit personnel.
She nodded, "Shrink got them to keep him enlisted, only barred from combat. Dunno what was wrong with him, but when he found out he was about to be handed a pink slip he just kinda…" she shrugged and shook her head, "Didn't see him for a week… think he shut down a little there."
He shook his head, "I wouldn't blame him… but that probably didn't help his case either. A little surprised that it wasn't the final 'nail in the coffin', y'know?"
"Yeah, we all were, to be honest I had been starting to think they'd sent him home already," Milne agreed, "Guess whatever shrink he talked to worked some kind of magic or something? I dunno, but he's here, he's skilled, and he doesn't seem to get a lot of sleep, but that's beside the point… I think…"
Shade shrugged and collected his phone from a nearby bench, then started for the door. "Well, as tough of a prick he is, I'll eventually get to him. Even if it kills me," he said as he pulled it open, "bonus points if he does, because then I'll get the kiss of life from you." Shade said, popping his eyebrows in an over-the-top fashion. Milne rolled her eyes.
"From what I've heard, I'd've thought you'd be preferring a certain Texan trooper over a mere medic like me…" She shot back, folding her arms over her chest.
"... I have no idea what you're talking about…" Shade said after a few moments of silence, internally wondering who's body he'd now have to dispose of. The sloppy denial was easily seen through by the medical officer, who just raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah, right… now get going, we've both got more important stuff to get to."
Jay was just sitting back down after a coffee run, taking a sip from the mug before setting it aside to see what was next on his docket when Shade passed by his desk again. His eyes caught Shade as he walked by and he felt.. something, in his stomach or somewhere. Something told him… he wasn't sure what, but it locked his eyes on to the Australian operator.
Instead of walking straight out the doors, Shade rounded to the front of the desk and stopped in front of Jay. "Y'know, you could try not being a wanker for once."
Jay blinked a moment, of all things, of all scenarios running through his head, that had not been one of them, "I'm… sorry? Did I do something? I'm confused..."
Shade sighed, "Look, I know a fellow gunfighter when I see him… them," he corrected, remembering that not all of his team were guys, "and I can tell you were one. And I get that you're still salty over being stuck on the bench and shit, but you gotta lighten the fuck up mate."
Jay sighed, "I wasn't a 'gunfighter', I was a combat medic, emphasis on was. Now I'm not. Haven't been for a year now."
"And still will be with that bloody attitude, y'know," Shade pointed out, aiming an index finger at him, "and don't give me that 'combat medic' bullshit. Chemo's one and he can still hit a mozzie's ass at three hundred meters while hanging upside down."
He shook his head "Still would be if not for a nosy ass shrink," Jay sat back with a frown, shoulders tense, "And I'm not Chemo. I'm me. And I came back from ops without having fired a single round. Combat medic. Not a gunfighter."
"To-may-to, to-mah-to," Shade said with a smirk, "The only difference between you and me is that my pack's full of bullets and bombs, yours is blood and band-aids." He sighed and stood upright, "What I'm saying is that if you want to get out there and do what you do best, you gotta fight for it. Don't let some pansy-ass armchair general or some shrink who hasn't seen down the barrel of some asshole's AK dictate how you live your bloody life." He pushed away from the counter and made his way for the door. "I see wasted potential behind that desk mate… but hey, your life, your path to walk."
"You don't think I did everything I could to get back out there?" he asked, voice dejected, Jay shook his head, "I tried, and I got a pink slip shoved in my face, at least here I can still do something."
Shade stood there, door halfway open and one foot outside. "I'll ask you something my old squad leader back in the Commandos asked me: you know what they say about rules, Jay?"
"No one ever got famous following them?" Jay shrugged and shook his head, "I tried everything… didn't matter to them, they were just gonna toss me away like a broken tool."
Shade rolled his eyes, "Rules are made to be broken, mate. If I were you, go brush the dust off of your armour, oil up your weapons… I'll be in touch." With that, he stepped outside and left the medic to ponder his words.
Jay leaned back in his chair with a sigh, rubbing his eyes with both hands. What he wouldn't give to get back out there, be with his team again, next to them, keeping them safe. But if the brass found out… He'd be done for sure then, sent 'home'. Jay scoffed at the idea, his home was where the Army sent him. Of course, the brass wouldn't see that, they didn't care to see it. The shrink had. He was lucky to still be enlisted, he couldn't risk it… could he?