"What do you think?" a fresh out of college nurse asked too eagerly, nodding to the file in Angela's hand "did the dad do it?"
"The boy's father is here?" she asked
"Yeah he's in there… probably coaching the kid on what not to say." The girl smirked knowingly.
"You don't want to do that Cynthia."
"Do what?"
"Assume… you know what they say… assume and you make and a** of you AND me." She knew to most trauma nurses, a ten year old claiming a fall to explain their injuries set off alarm bells, thoughts of abuse floating to the forefront of their minds… and staying there until proved otherwise. Angela Collins though knew better than to make assumptions like that. The loss of her job at a level one trauma center and a six month suspension of her nurse's license two years ago had taught her to never assume you know the circumstance. So she read the file with a neutral expression…the child had several possible injuries including potential ankle and arm fractures. Angela frowned… the boy must have been pretty high. Squaring her shoulders and plastering a reassuring smile on her face, the older nurse pulled the curtain of the exam cubical back. She stopped short. The boy was small for his age and sat painfully stiff on the table… tears lingered in his eyes, his cheeks were pale and tense with pain but a small smile graced his lips as he watched his father who sat in the rigid chair by the bed. His back was turned to her but she still didn't miss the flourish as he made a scarf disappear. The child's smile widened with delight.
"Hello Nathen" she began" so what happened this afternoo…" her voice faded abruptly as the boy's dad turned to face her…that face… she would never forget the last time she saw that face… pale and bruised… barely breathing after her assumptions nearly killed him. Angela never pictured Caffrey as a father but he seemed to be an extremely competent one… assumptions she reminded herself as the clear blue eyes regarded her thoughtfully. Her breath caught, if the man recognized her… he smiled suddenly, no recognition, only concern in his gaze.
"Nate why don't you explain to the nurse what exactly you were doing?" the man's tone carried a perfect mixture of disbelief, reproof and amusement.
"Ph̀x…" the child pleaded but the older blue eyes pinned him with a gently stern look.
"Go on…" he urged
"I was climbing down…" his voice sank to a mumbled as his eyes dropped to the floor.
"What was that sweet heart?" she asked, this time childish blue eyes met hers with a mischievous glint around his pain and fear.
"I was trying to climb down from Ph̀x's balcony…"
"Oh you were… you must have been pretty high still when you fell"
"About fifteen feet up" his dad supplied. " the balcony is on the third floor."
"I see…" her gaze darted to the man sitting beside the bed "may I ask… Why?" her look returned to the boy…
"Uncle Mozzie has been teaching me free running and how to scale a wall… I wanted to impress him"
"And I'm fairly certain he didn't want you to try it unsupervised right now."
"Probably not." The child shifted uncomfortably, his eyes dropping, pain obviously flaring.
"Is there anything else Moz might be teaching you while I'm at work." The man's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I asked him to show me how to pick a lock."
"Why?" Caffrey frowned, worry evident.
"So I can't be locked in again." Angela noticed the look that passed between father and son, she knew there was a story there but Angela Collins learned two years ago not to pry….
"Alright Nathen let's take you to get those x-rays taken." She said with a smile… a smile that, she was proud, didn't slip in the slightest.
Two hours later she watched the little boy hobble out, his broken ankle in a fluorescent green cast and his sprained right wrist tightly wrapped. His father hovered anxiously over him as they left. Angela smiled, the man had refused to leave the boy's side through the whole process…wincing each time his son did.
"So Angela," the young nurse appeared at her elbow "you let him leave with his dad…"
"Yes I did."
"You know he'll probably be back…"
"Probably, he's practicing free running and climbing walls." The girl raised her eyebrows and Angela grinned but her eyes remained serious. "I will warn you again about those assumptions…"
Author's note: This is not intended to be a cohesive story and I don't plan to update on a set schedule... just as the ideas come to me. I have an actual sequel to It Makes Perfect Sense but I'm not sure I should post it... the ending is not exactly happy