"Her biggest problem is dehydration and malnutrition." Nathan told Chris quietly. The gunslinger was still sitting in the same place he had been since his sister was brought into the clinic. Nathan glanced over at the cot that held the sleeping girl adding, "Once she's eating right again, it'll just be a matter of time." With that said, Nathan patted his friend's tense shoulder before moving on to his other patient's bed. When he looked down, he found Ezra's green eyes staring back at him.
"What is the prognosis of our fair companion?" he whispered through his cracked lips.
Being in his chosen profession, Ezra had never been one given to enjoy the great outdoors. Because of this, his skin was not the type that was naturally conducive to being tanned by the sun. His illness coupled with the glare of the early morning sun seemed to compound that fact. His normally fair skin was nearly transparent.
When Nathan first met the southerner, it had not been love at first sight for either man. But, at the time, Nathan's reluctance to accept the man seemed justified by Ezra's initial prejudice towards the black healer. As time passed, Nathan saw that Ezra had stepped past his childhood prejudices. If Nathan was being honest with himself, it was taking him longer than Ezra to put aside those beliefs. But, looking down in the feverish face that lay before him and seeing the concern in that pale face and the deep concern in his voice set him further down his personal path to forgiveness.
"She's gonna be fine, Ez." Nathan assured the man as he placed his large palm on Ezra's forehead. He was relieved to find that the heat that had been radiating from Ezra's body for the past few days, was finally beginning to disappear. His fever had broken two days ago and Nathan had been closely monitoring him to be sure that it continued to steadily decline.
Nathan then picked up Ezra's hand and began to look at his fingers, checking for signs of infection. After replacing the cold hand at his side, he turned his complete attention to the man on the bed. "You'll be fine too, if you stay in bed," he firmly stated, leaving no room for argument. Nathan knew from past experience that since Ezra was now conscious, the wily patient would try to attempt one of his famous escapes from the clinic.
"Nat…han?" Ezra hoarsely called, his voice was still weak from disuse.
Nathan glanced back up at Ezra, as he continued to check his various wounds. "Yeah?"
Ezra swallowed hard once, before finishing his thought. "Thanks. For saving me. And her."
Nathan nodded briefly at the Southerner as he finished up his examination.