Disclaimer: See part one for full disclaimer.
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Life Lessons 3
By, Nicole Silverwolf
"How long was he up?" Kerry asked critically as she snatched up his file from its place at the foot of the bed.
"Just for a few minutes. Drank a little water, got a name out of him. He was too tired and wary to tell me anything else."
Steve began removing the IV bag from the stand and clipping the new one to it. They would continue with the intravenous drugs until the kid was more awake and the worst of the pneumonia had passed away.
Kerry was making a few notes on the page but seemed to be trying to hide a smile more often than not. Tucking the clipboard back where it had come from she rose and set down next to the head of the bed, next to Howard. With a questioning glance and after waiting for an approving nod, her hands moved rapidly, ghosting everywhere as she checked vitals and changes. Howard watched closely but did not object to the ministrations.
"He was complaining that it hurt to breathe. Anything you can do about that Kerry?"
She shook her head in the classic no, even though her eyes did not leave the path of her hands as she worked. "Not right now. I need to give him a more thorough exam before I can prescribe anything else. And as long as he's sleeping peacefully now I don't want to disturb him. He needs the rest more. He'll probably wake up again in a few hours. When he does I need you to keep him awake until I can come and check him out. Ok?"
Steve leaned against the side of the wall casually while Kerry straightened to head back. "Gotcha Kerry."
"So what's his name boss man or are we gonna have to guess?"
Howard smiled faintly. "Meet Duo Maxwell guys."
"When you wake up again I think we'll introduce ourselves more formally," Steve quipped gently to the form on the bed.
Satisfied and a bit worried that they might wake the child with their talking they split up to head elsewhere. Kerry was surprised that Howard followed her out the door instead of staying behind. He more often than not spent the night in his room, regardless of the fact that he wasn't always on duty at night.
"I would have thought you'd spend the night back there boss...where you sleeping tonight?"
"Ahhhh I've got a hammock strung up in hangar three. I sleep there when I need to."
Nodding once they continued together for a few moments. At the end of the hall where it split in two separate directions, they paused for a moment to speak. Kerry's playfully stern voice was the first to break the silence. "Get some sleep bossman. Doctor's orders."
With a sage/near laughing shake of his head and some mutterings that sounded suspiciously like "damn disrespecting, mother henning kids" before good naturally strolling down the hall in the other direction towards the hangars.
Mornings on a spaceship were only punctuated by the change in time and a call for breakfast as opposed to dinner. The lone cafeteria on the ship served one meal at that time and the crew sat family style around it. While serving in this manner served the purpose of cutting down the food and prep time--it also united the entire group, and was the vehicle to spread orders, news, stories and plentiful jokes.
Having spent more of the night awake than not, Howard was late and the last to the meal. The only other crew member missing in action was Ray as it was his shift in Howard's room. And though Howard was captain of the ship--meals were an entirely different story--no one took much notice at his entrance other than a perfunctory "hello" or slurred "g'morning". Conversations didn't cease as he settled down near the end of the table near Kerry, Steve, Mike and a few other older Sweepers who were more sedate in their morning rituals.
A cup of coffee, bagel and another cup of coffee were taken in before Howard was even slightly aware. Standing in one fluid movement he waited. Not intending to move it took only a moment for the table full of mechanics and engineers to notice. Silence descended in their noticing wake.
Kerry watched him closely from where she sat two seats down. With a flash of insight it seemed incredibly obvious that he would be telling everyone about Duo. Was it too early to do that? While she had at first advocated telling the crew right away, there was a little part of her that jealously wanted the secret of their kid to stay between the four of them. The child was still very sick as well. Main crew members would still be off limits insofar as being able to see the kid. But they were coming up on port in a day, perhaps he needed to clear the air before suspicions rose among the crew. In any case she listened attentively, even though she knew the story.
"You all know we've had a stowaway in my quarters for the past few days. I would be pretty foolish to think that you all didn't know about it four days ago when Ray and Steve found him down in cargo."
Holding up a hand to forestall the questions nearly pouring out of the curious crew already, Howard glared at them to demand silence again. "Can you wait until I at least finish?" The others laughed quietly at the lame attempt at exasperation. "I'll tell you what we know and then you guys can ask all the questions you want."
Giving a rundown of what they knew about the kid was relatively quick considering how little they knew about the boy. Eyes often slipped to Kerry for confirmation of medical facts, to which she nodded often and rarely spoke up to add more. When Howard settled back and indicated they were finished, the table exploded with questions. As inquisitive as they were they weren't going to lose this opportunity to voice their opinion and get some answers.
"Is he gonna stay here? Have you decided that?"
"Well that's kinda up to him I think, and also up to you. He's too sick to drop of at our next port regardless."
"How long are we talking recovery time?" That from a stocky man near one end of the table. "Not to sound like the bad guy but the kid's draining resources. Would we need to make a stop to pick up more medicine? The stuff on ship is barely gonna cover docking fees, offload rights, and our salaries. What if he gets sicker, or gets the rest of us sick?"
"It's why we've been keeping him in Howard's quarters," Kerry interjected calmly. "As far as him spreading this to the rest of you, the chances are slim if he remains isolated for another week or two. And since none of the people who have been in contact with him are sick and show no signs of coming down with anything I think we're safe from starting an epidemic. We have plenty of medicine if we catch anyone who might have caught it early. So if you're feeling a little sick come and find me sooner not later."
Steve picked up after her without missing a beat.
"When you meet this kid, you'll know why we decided to let him stay on board. He can't be more than eleven, and he was miserable. Not to mention that he was probably miserable far before he ever ended up here."
Steve paused for a moment in his diatribe and Kerry half-expected Howard to jump in because the silence dragged on. But the mechanic continued after a few seconds.
"You can see his ribs. Count his bones. Feel them through his skin. This world's messed up enough as it is. A kid shouldn't have to suffer like that, so we couldn't leave him behind. That answer your question Eduardo? Because I know that every one of you were thinking something along that line."
The silence that followed held the quality of deep regret and guilt. Chagrined at the truth Steve had hit so close to. Mouths hid behind steepled hands, or drew into thin lines as eyes sought anywhere but the speakers at the head. An occasional uncomfortable cough broke the gentle hum of the heating fans.
A tall burly man, one of the largest any had seen was the first to speak. His lilting voice rolled and rumbled with a thick Jamaican accent that would probably never leave the tone. It was soft yet carried effortlessly throughout the room like a huge bell tolling. He never spoke without thinking things out first.
"Perhaps we are a little worried about the boy as a potential threat. But it is partially because we are facing an unknown most of us have never dealt with before. Few of us have ever had much experience with children. Unless you raised younger siblings at home. I think we should allow him to stay if he wishes. Is this the best place for him to stay? I don't think I can answer that and neither can any of you."
"Marlon's right," Mike spoke up from the seat next to Kerry. "I for one don't think we should make the kid leave. Do we need to put this to a vote?"
Various shakes of "no" spanned the entire table. Howard, who had said nothing throughout the discussion, relaxed his shoulders slightly. No one had noticed how tensed and worked up they had become during the last twenty minutes. The captain also knew that he couldn't force the crew to accept this new kid; they needed to decide it for themselves and though he had complete faith in the goodness of his crew he also knew they were practical. He wasn't quite sure himself how they were going to support another crew member, no matter how small.
But they would decide on that later when the kid could stay awake for more than five minutes at a time. Tipping his head to one side in thanks he settled back into his seat.
"We're coming up on dock in under 48 guys. Today, everyone's on prep duty; got it? No shirking on your duties. Make sure the rest of the cargo is inventoried and finish the repairs on that speeder we're dropping off. I want it running like it was made of water by tonight."
As if a light switch had been flipped, the table once again assumed its more relaxed state. Now that they had decided on things, everyone was content to finish their last cup of coffee or the half eaten bagel before they began to drift out slowly to a day of work. Soon it was only Kerry, Steve and Howard.
"You two seem to think those orders don't apply to you. Or is it, that you don't think I've made a good decision in letting them know this early in the game?" Howard leaned back in his seat resting hands on top of his chest.
"You're not worried about the crew sneaking in to see this kid? That they aren't going to just let him stay?" Steve asked.
"No I'm not." The tone held a smug challenge in it that neither of the two chose to take.
It seemed almost destined by fate then that Kerry's beeper chose that moment of silence to fire off.
"It's Duo. I gotta go."
Howard was on his feet and matched her as she rushed down the hall--not running, but walking swiftly--around corners and with practiced ease to the crew quarters.
The room was relatively quiet when the three others made it back to Howard's quarters. Walking inside they could see Ray, sitting quietly with his hands in his lap and a gentle smile on his face. His eyes were focused on the bed and his posture was as non-threatening as it could possibly get.
On the other side of the room, scrunched in the bed and watching with wary indigo eyes was Duo. Hands fisted on top of bed sheets darted between the three newcomers and the youngest Sweeper who sat quietly as far away as possible.
Howard stepped before the two other curious faces, peering at the young child sitting on the bed, with eyes two sizes too large for his small body and a heart shaped face too gaunt to be normal. And a strength of will only seen on veterans of war and of those who lead nations, colonies...worlds. Kerry for one was too surprised to speak.
"Hey Duo. You remember me right?" Howard ventured quietly.
Two eyes locked on his and an almost accusing light entered those too large eyes as he stared the older man down. "What's going on?"
"Easy kid. They're not gonna hurt you either, though Ray and Steve over there can attest to your ability to fight. They're a few of my crew members here on this ship. And this woman is Dr. Kerry. She's our onboard doctor and a fellow Sweeper."
At each reference to a name a different head tipped in a friendly hello.
"And this young man is Duo Maxwell everyone."
Again a chorus of smiling hellos greeted the bed-ridden boy. The youngster relaxed again, either too tired or calming down a bit, the others could not tell. It didn't really make a difference as Duo suddenly tensed before being overtaken by fit of coughing so severe that the boy's face started to tinge blue.
Kerry was instantly at his side, forcing the child to sit up straight to clear his airway and rubbing circles on his back to try and make the act of taking a breath more natural. Howard appeared at their side a moment later, a glass ready when the boy would need it.
"Take it easy kid. There ya go." Howard encouraged quietly as the boy finally stopped, taking in large gasps of oxygen. Liquid, almost tears pooled at the corners of tightly squeezed shut eyes as Duo fought to control both. It took over a minute for the child to stop gasping.
Setting him back Kerry helped him sip a little water before starting a quiet bout of questions between the young boy and herself, which the others couldn't hear from where they were. Howard snatched her bag from the corner and placed it soundlessly on the floor before settling next to the bed, leaning against the table.
"You feeling better Duo?" Kerry asked, concern evident in her voice. Not meeting her eyes the boy shook his head violently in the symbol of no.
"It hurts," The plaintive reply.
"When you breathe and cough like that right?"
A nod 'yes'.
"Anything else hurt? Like when you swallow?"
"Everything aches. It doesn't hurt to swallow," the boy dutifully responded to the blankets.
"Ok Duo. I'm gonna have to listen to what's inside your lungs so I can tell what's wrong and so I can give you some more medicine that will hopefully make you feel better. Is that ok?"
The tenseness in his shoulders hadn't really gone away, even though it was taking an effort to hold it for the ill boy. She had to tread carefully, seeing as the boy was skittish and distrustful. And probably not all that familiar with doctors and procedures as most kids his age would usually be.
Digging a stethoscope out of her bag and warming it between flattened palms; Kerry shifted so she was facing Duo. The motions were rote and she focused on what she was hearing rather than the action she was taking as she slid the metal disk to strategic places on the boy's chest and then back. Every so often she asked for a big breath, and each time the child complied though she knew it hurt a lot.
"Well," she started and directed her comment to the entire room, "you have a lot of fluid in your lungs Duo that isn't supposed to be there. I'm gonna make you take some gross tasting liquid now but it will make your breathing a little easier. You also have a low-grade fever that we want to try and get rid of too. Okay?"
The boy didn't respond but Howard nodded simply. Casting a dubious glance at him, Kerry found the bottle she was looking for. Brown glass and a long complicated name on the label as Duo saw it. Checking for dosage, she measured out a few teaspoons of the clear liquid. "Sorry I don't have something that tastes better," the doctor apologized as she held out the small cup for him to drink.
Looking at the cup warily, Duo tried to debate whether or not taking the weird liquid was a good idea. Even though he had little choice in the matter. Could he trust these "Sweepers" as the old dude had referred to them? Trusting, wasn't something that came very easily to the nearly eleven year old orphan. You didn't trust anyone but yourself on the streets and all the trust he had ever handed out before was usually misplaced or had been torn away.
Maybe just a temporary trust then. Just until he could get off this ship and find somewhere else. That shouldn't take too long, he figured. He had already been on the ship for a week before they found him. That meant there was only a few days between that time and the next stop. Temporary trust would work really good here, he smiled satisfied at his intelligent decision.
A tickle at the back of his throat signaling another bout of coughing was about to commence. The memories of the last painful round were enough to get him motivated. In one, swift movement he threw the cup back and downed the entire contents in one grimacing gulp.
"Eewwww," he complained. "That tastes like cardboard!"
"Sorry Duo, I told you it was gross. Here." Kerry handed him another small pill and a glass of water, which he took and swallowed down. At least the pill didn't taste like anything.
"You're all set for now. You're probably going to feel really tired for the next week or so. Don't fight it and go to sleep if you're tired. You need a lot of rest to get rid of the infections. I'm gonna leave the IV in for a while until you can eat some more food and can drink more regularly."
"How come the needle doesn't hurt? Don't, like all needles do that?"
Steve smiled and let out a breath that could have been mistaken for a laugh. "We put that in while you were sleeping. It won't hurt even if we have to stick it back in now. Pretty cool huh?"
Whether he found the idea cool or not, the fact that an adult had called something cool was enough to elicit a small grin from the boy on the bed. Followed almost immediately by a nearly jaw splitting yawn.
Howard motioned to his two mechanics to get up. "We're docking in under 48 Ray, I assume you have some work to do."
"Yeah boss man. Seeya later Duo!" He smiled and waved his hand once in a later gesture. "You've got a mean arm kid!"
"Thanks. Sorry I hit you so hard though." He replied sheepishly. Kerry wondered about that for a moment. It wasn't like a kid to apologize normally—especially one who lived most of his life on the street. Perhaps he had been in foster care for a while? An orphanage maybe? Another small piece of the puzzle to play with.
Steve, Kerry and Ray nodded once and retreated from the room. Heading left for the bridge she waved goodbye to the two engineers who were heading opposite from her and towards the hangars where work awaited both of them.
It was only mildly surprising to see the old dude sit down again near the bed. Not far away like that guy Ray had been sitting, but not really close either. Between the two Duo decided. Going on his new policy of temporary trusting he lay back against the pillows and relaxed slightly, letting another yawn break out.
This was ridiculous. He had just been asleep! Why did he still feel so tired? Struggling to keep two non-cooperating eyelids in the upright and locked position, he watched the brightly shirted man pull out a book and start to write in it rapidly. There was a question on his tongue and he wanted to ask it rather badly. But asking it would most certainly bring a response that sounded something like, "so we can drop you off with the police or social services at the next colony we stop at."
But his genuine curiosity and his rather cynical view of everything won out and he asked anyway.
"Why are you doing this?"
Howard looked surprised as he lifted his head from the log he had been dictating and chicken scratching the new schedule into. He hadn't expected the question at all, though he probably should have known the kid wasn't typical and would ask.
When Duo didn't receive an immediate response he averted his eyes and found a fascinating rivet in the wall next to him. "I mean I'm just gutter trash. It's not like anyone would miss me if I was dead. And it's stupid of you to waste all that medicine on me cuz I'll prolly be dead in a month anyways."
While the child continued to mumble half-heartedly to the wall--or more precisely to himself—-Howard watched the boy in a sort of muted horror. No child should ever think that about themselves. Maybe Howard didn't understand why the kid thought that way, or how hard it was to live on the streets, but it was still sickeningly wrong. He interrupted without really thinking or deciding to.
"You are not gutter trash Duo." The statement was almost a command from the way he said it, forceful and filled with conviction.
Duo hadn't counted on someone counter arguing his assertions. Whipping his head around, long bangs didn't obscure the look of incredulous challenge and anger in the violet eyes. Traces of the illness' exhaustion still hung over his face and sallow skin dug deep caverns in his face that shouldn't have been there.
"You don't know me. What do you know at all? I'm a damn orphan who grew up on the streets. I shoulda died down there in that cargo hold and no one would have known or cared. I'm not worth anything to anyone. So I'm gutter trash."
"That doesn't make you gutter trash Duo."
"Says who? You?" the child tried to spit the words angrily at him and partially succeeded in the matter.
"Yeah. Me." Howard replied calmly.
Duo didn't have a retort to that. Only two other people had ever contradicted him like that before and they were both very, very gone. And he wasn't going to start thinking about them or he would end up having to explain a lot more than he wanted to, to the guy sitting across the room. Angry, frustrated, and just a bit upset--now that he was most definitely losing this argument--he grumbled sourly. "You know I don't even know who you are."
"The name's Howard kid and I'm in charge of this ship. I figured you probably don't remember when I mentioned that last night. And for what its worth, I don't think that anything you told me qualifies you as 'gutter trash' at all."
Confusion and a bit of that wariness were back in the boy's face as he stared down Howard. They stayed like that for a long while.
TBC
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