It Looks Worse Than It Is
Author's Note: I live in the world of AU keenler. For Week 3 of Febressuary 2022 something short and cute.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Liz Keen ran through the hallway of the hospital and toward the nurse's desk.
"Donald Ressler?" She asked, anxious and out of breath.
The nurse at the desk continued to click her mouse opening another file on her computer screen.
"Excuse me? Where can I find Donald Ressler?" Liz asked a little louder as she flashed her badge.
"Just a minute," the nurse said as she continued with her form.
"You don't seem to under…" Liz said impatiently.
"Ma'am, you came to my desk while I was filling out a chart for a patient that I just attended, so unless you want me to record the wrong dosage of medication for him, you will wait a minute," the woman said with authority.
Liz, although annoyed, understood, and stood there anxiously tapping her foot. She knew hospitals were understaffed and staff were overworked and she was trying to be patient, but Ressler was brought here injured from a chemical weapon.
"What's the name?" The woman asked.
"Donald Ressler," Liz said with a smile.
The woman pulled a file and looked at it.
"And you are?"
"His partner," Liz said.
The woman furrowed her brow, she saw that there was a wedding ring on her finger and just wondered why married people just didn't say married anymore or if partner meant work partner.
"Room 6," she said as she closed the folder and pointed down the hallway.
Liz walked quickly down the hallway and into Room 6 to see Ressler sitting naked from the waist up with red marks all over his torso and a young nurse carefully applying a salve.
"What the hell?!" Liz said as she walked toward him.
"It looks worse than it is," Ressler said quickly, wincing the nurse touched a sensitive area on his chest.
"It looks like you have major burns," Liz said as she approached him and looked carefully at his body.
"Most will heal as long as he keeps everything moist," the nurse said as she worked on him.
"Kate, this is my partner, Liz," Ressler said to the nurse.
She looked up at Liz and furrowed her brow; obviously displeased about something.
"What the hell happened?" Liz asked him as she sat down on the bed next to him and leaned back to look at his back.
"Ma'am, please don't jostle the bed," Kate said, annoyed.
Liz furrowed her brow and looked at Ressler who shrugged.
"He detonated it before we could get away, I covered a woman and her child so they wouldn't get harmed," Ressler said.
"Very brave," Kate sighed.
Liz rolled her eyes and Ressler chuckled and then winced.
"Don't make me laugh," he admonished Liz quietly.
"They're okay?" Liz asked.
"Not a scratch or a burn," Ressler smiled.
Liz patted his thigh and smiled at him.
"Ma'am I'm going to need you to stand over there," Kate said, as she walked over to Liz's side of the bed and stood there with her salve and swab.
"Uh, sure," Liz said, standing and moving out of the way.
"Do you have someone who can help you apply this later tonight?" Kate asked.
"I can help," Liz offered readily.
Kate sighed.
Ressler smirked.
"He will need it reapplied every 3 hours for the next few days so unless you are available that often to assist, Don, you would be wise to hire private nursing care," Kate said as she pointed with her head toward a pamphlet on the wall. "They provide excellent care. I should know, I work for them. And you can request me if you…"
"He's good, thanks," Liz interrupted. "So, how do I apply this?"
Kate huffed and Liz walked around the other side of the bed to watch.
"Every 3 hours?" Liz asked.
"Yes," Kate said curtly.
Liz nodded.
The EMT walked into the room.
"How are we doing?" He asked.
"I've seen better days, but Kate here says I won't be scarred for life," Ressler smiled at him.
"Here are your personal effects," the EMT said, handing Ressler a bag.
"Thanks, I don't think I swelled much, but I'm glad you got those off me," Ressler smiled at him.
"Nice work today, Agent Ressler," the EMT said before he walked from the room.
Liz continued to watch Kate dab his chemical burns very attentively.
Ressler opened the bag and took out the items.
"Am I okay to put these back on?" Ressler asked Kate.
The nurse leaned over his shoulder and saw the watch and the wedding ring and looked perplexed.
"The watch should be fine," Kate said. "But the ring…you're married?"
"Yeah," Ressler said as he smiled and nodded toward Liz. "You've met my better half."
Kate looked toward Liz astonished.
Liz smiled at her.
"Oh, uh, good, you will be around every three hours to put this on," Kate said, stammering slightly.
"Yep," Liz smiled at her. "I will be."
The end.
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