Murdock resisted the strong urge to clamp his hand over the broken skin. He wanted to soothe the ache so badly but past experience had taught him well, smacking your palm over the fresh puncture wound just earned you another one.
And if the Doctors had their way, they'd pump you so full of holes you'd whistle Dixie.
He remembered, before Vietnam, when donating blood was a transaction. They withdrew his blood and deposited a few dollars for food in his hand.
Now there were no dollars, no cookies, no cups of tea.
Just a bruise and a band aid and a "send McGregor in next."
"Hey Doc, you got any of those band aids with the dinosaurs? Y'know those cool purple ones, 'cause Billy, he already got five of those green spiky dudes and we're looking to trade some long necks in the next game of cards, Frank Dermont's got us whipped at poker, boy he sure knows when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. Ain't gonna have no cookies left to trade, so if I could get some of those neato dino band aids, I'd have some leverage. So what d'you say? Can you help a brother out?"
"Murdock, you know gambling isn't permitted on the ward,"
He didn't even look up from the vial of blood he was labelling.
"I'll cut you into my winnings, next game's chocolate pudding," Murdock persisted.
" That's great Murdock. Just send McGregor in"
Murdock watched as the doctor smoothed the regular, flesh coloured band aid over his arm.
"Spoilsport," he muttered.
"McGregor please, Murdock."
Murdock saluted.
"See 'ya next week Doc,"
The doctor sighed as the door closed behind the captain, a moment's reprieve from endless chatter. Last week he'd wanted a cookie, the week before he'd tried to start a union against the bloodsuckers who weren't providing fair pay to the donating patients.
The door opened again.
"Murdock, I told you, send McGregor in,"
"I'm getting to it, gee you're impatient. Relax, the blood isn't gonna spoil. You sure you don't want a cut in my winnings, I'm on a hot streak," He held his hands out and wiggled his fingers, "These babies are golden, all I need is a dino band aid-"
"Out Murdock!"
The pilot slunk from the room, muttering about the audacity of people, being so bad tempered when he was trying to do them a favour.
The doctor really hoped he was on his lunch break when it was Murdock's turn to give blood next.
The End.
