Respect
Doc's POV
"So it's true then?" Brandt's voice interrupted my reading. I looked up to see Brandt hovering over Ian's sleeping form, curled around a little tank. Not far behind him the newly inserted Sunny was lying on a cot with her fingers entwined with Kyle's, fast asleep.
"What's true?" I ask, voice wary. It's no secret that Brandt only tolerates Wanda for the sake and peace of the community, not trying to kill her at every turn and being civil, but not liking her either.
"The girl asked you to kill her? So that she wouldn't have to face Jared's wrath when he finally realized that Melanie Stryder was in there somewhere?"
I bristled at the word "kill". And when he put it so bluntly, it sounded a thousand times worse.
"It's not that simple, Brandt. Wanda set Melanie free, and she also-"
"But we needed her! She gave us easy raids- kinda like grocery shopping- and now she just kills herself?"
"She isn't dead, and Melanie is out with Jared and Jamie finding her a new body as we speak."
"Yeah, but that's only 'cuz you kept her alive. The girl wanted to die, Doc. She wanted to die, and it was selfish." I opened my mouth to retort something in Wanda's defense, but he cut me off.
"I heard that she also wanted to die because she was scared that the seekers would try to find her and then transport her away. That true as well?"
I felt my face flush with anger. Out of all the lies I'd heard, that was one of the most absurd.
"And where did you hear that?" I snapped. Brandt looked surprised; I usually was mild-tempered.
"If only you'd drop by the caves more often, by now you'd have experienced the full-blown Lacey Jennings lecture about how everything here is not up to standard, how annoying the whole situation is. And about how she hates Wanda," Andy said, stepping through the entrance with Paige by his side.
"It was one of the most stupidest and idiotic things I've ever heard in my life, of course it would've come out of the mouth of the most obnoxious woman I've ever had the displeasure of meeting," to mine and Brandt's extreme surprise, Paige jumped in, spitting the words out between her teeth. She must really dislike Lacey; couldn't blame her, the woman was rude to no extent.
"Are you sure that it was rubbish? You know how that parasite was at first, all jumpy and scared. I wouldn't be surprised."
"Do you know the real reason she chose to die, Brandt? She could have easily chosen to stay in Mel's body, but she didn't. She chose to sacrifice herself for Melanie, so that Mel could finally be in her own body, so that Mel Stryder could finally be reunited with Jared and Jamie and Jeb," I snarled.
"Sacrifice? That doesn't exist. And it was also selfish of her to leave Ian behind, O'Shea was hung up on her, though I don't know why," he insisted. I was about to retort Selfish? Wanda is the least selfish person I know! When the look in his eyes stopped me. His normally steely brown eyes were showing- desperation? Desperation, sadness and a bit of anger leaked through his walls.
"Why don't you believe in sacrifice, Brandt?" I asked slowly. The walls slammed down again.
"I just don't, OK Doc? Sacrifice doesn't exist in our world; the parasite was selfish and probably broke Ian's heart along the way. Although he might be annoying at times, O'Shea don't deserve that."
I could see understanding and a bit of pity start to creep across Paige and Andy's faces simultaneously. We all had our own stories to share here, our own personal stories of defeat and loss, and anger and pain. Mine was filled with images of my late best friend and colleague Gordon, and various patients whom I'd been close to in the hospital. I wondered, who exactly in Brandt's story taught him to believe in (or not believe in) such things? Whoever it was, I wouldn't try to find out.
"Sorry Brandt, but did it ever occur to you that Wanda isn't from our world? In her world, sacrifice does exist. And she chose to sacrifice herself, and her chance of love, to save her host. That in itself is no cowardice, it is bravery to the highest degree," Andy announced quietly, hugging Paige to him. Brandt looked at them, then at me, and then finally turned to Ian and Wanda.
Nodding once, he turned and made his way out without a word. Paige patted Ian's hand once, then she and Andy left after him. Sitting myself heavily down on to my chair, I heaved a sigh. I hoped that Brandt would understand; that he would learn to accept- and respect.
Author's Note: I'm sorry; I don't know what that was… I was just thinking of reasons as to why Brandt was at Wanda's bedside when she woke up… crazy imagination really. Reviews are appreciated, and I love constructive criticism. ¡Mucho gracias!