Hey Ya'll!! The last chapter was not the end, so don't call me evil. I never ever want to end a story on a bad note!!!!! you make me sad :'(...
for those of you that have not answered my question from the last chap...please do, I still have mixed answers.....
Enjoy!!!
Stephen rested in peace. It had only been a day after his surgery, but he somehow found comfort in the rocking and lulling of the ship. Stephen woke up, though, and realized that he was still missing an arm. It would never grow back. He sighed, this still seemed weird to him.
He looked around his cabin, finding that lying down all day was not a particularity fun thing to do. He wasn't supposed to get up, but was very tempted as there was no one in the room that could stop him. He picked himself up and out of the hammock and steadied himself on the table just a few inches away. He looked around with a satisfied look upon his face, but was caught off guard by a knocking at the door.
He, deciding that he needed no more rest, walked over to the door and opened it to find young Lord Blakeney standing there. The boy's eyes widened when he saw that the doctor was the one that had opened the door and not Padeen or maybe even Captain Aubrey himself.
"Good morning Lord Blakeney," Stephen chirped pleasantly.
"Doctor," The boy asked, "Shouldn't you be resting? You need to build up your strength."
Stephen glared at this comment. "Lord Blakeney, once more I must remind you that it is not you that is the doctor of this ship, it is I, Dr. Maturin."
"I'm sorry sir," Blakeney piped, "I am just a bit worried...."
"I want neither your pity or scorn. I have faced enough of that in my lifetime," Stephen said with an unusually harsh tone.
"Yes sir, I am sorry sir."
There was a bitter silence between them and Lord Blakeney looked down at his shoes. Stephen sighed and smiled, trying to ease the situation.
"I believe, Lord Blakeney, that you did not just come down here to stand at my doorway, come in," Stephen said in a lighter voice.
"Thank you sir."
Lord Blakeney stepped in and found a spot in the middle of the cabin and stood, waiting for the doctor to close the door.
Stephen turned around to face a stiff-looking Blakeney. "You know that you can sit, I am not your captain." Blakeney eased his poser and found a chair.
He looked up at the doctor and rested his eyes on Stephen's missing arm. "Sir, I came down here to see you, check in on you if you will. The crew is rather nervous about the whole thing."
"They shouldn't be," Stephen sighed, "I am a stronger man than they think."
"I know that you are strong sir," Blakeney said quietly, "I know how much pain is caused by an amputation." Blakeney held out his arm that was cut short and gave a small smile.
Stephen smiled and chuckled. "Believe me Lord Blakeney; I know that you know what that feels like. You were and are the bravest patient I ever had."
"Thank you sir."
"There are no need for thanks."
Silence filled the room once more as a question was burning inside of Lord Blakeney, Stephen could tell it.
"What is it that you want to know?" Stephen mused.
"Sir?" Blakeney asked confused.
"You don't fool me. I can see that you are dying to ask me something," Stephen paused and continued, "You can ask me any question that you have."
Lord Blakeney rubbed his lips together, wondering if he should ask this question. "Doctor Maturin, are you really the ship's doctor any more? Ya know, since your.....arm was taken off."
Stephen wondered upon this for a moment and then answered, "I plan to be. I am not going to let this," he raised up what was left of his arm, "get in my way. Sure, it may be harder for me, but I will only need help from an assistant. That's what I have Padeen and Higgins for."
Lord Blakeney looked at Stephen with admiration, "You're really going to continue to do surgeries?"
"Yes," Stephen nodded, "I don't see why I shouldn't. Otherwise I would be in the way. I have to pull my weight around here."
"Of course," Lord Blakeney smiled and gave a chuckle.
Stephen looked over at the boy with a glare. "What was that for?"
"Well, sir, to tell you the truth, I was thinking about the time that the captain was talking about how you never give up on anything that it was border line stubbornness. Oh, but sir don't be offended, I find it admirable."
Stephen gave a small smile. He knew that Jack had often thought him stubborn and how he himself had called Jack stubborn before. It didn't offend him much at all.
"Well Mr. Blakeney, I have been known to be persistent, if not for my own good. Now about those crew members, what do you saw you and I pay them a little visit. It is awfully boring in this place."
Mr. Blakeney rose and smiled, "Of course sir, I am sure they would like that very much."
TBC