Disclaimers: Hellboy et al belong to Mike Mignola and Dark Horse Comics, while any movie details are property of Sony Pictures.
November 28, 11:16am
Abe was back to his usual self after a few days of rest, and a whole lot of liquid Band-Aid to keep his stitches clean. Luckily, the bureau kept it in bulk.
Once he was released from the infirmary, Abe could return to his quarters or swim around in the much roomier tank in he library, although he still had to get frequent check-ups.
It was during one of these that Hellboy came waltzing in, smoking a cigar.
Abe was sitting on an examination table, in the middle of having the laceration on his stomach prodded by one of the resident nurses. She gave Hellboy a nasty glare, which clearly told him to put out his cigar.
"Ya got a visitor," Hellboy said, taking the cigar out of his mouth and jerking his thumb behind him.
Audrey came to stand hesitantly beside Hellboy, clutching her jacket in front of her, visitors pass hanging from around her neck. Hellboy took it upon himself to make introductions.
"Abe Sapien, Audrey McCoy, a.k.a. the one who saved your blue ass."
Hellboy took great delight in making Abe feel sheepish. Hellboy was still mad at Abe for making him worry, and took it out on him however he could.
"It's nice to finally meet you," Abe said politely, extending a webbed hand.
Audrey shook it and smiled.
"I hope you're feeling better," she said. "The last time I saw you, you were looking a bit worse-for-wear."
Abe grinned, "Nothing a few stitches can't cure, as you can see. And at least now I've finally surpassed Red in our stitch-count battle."
Audrey winced in sympathy at the sight of the railroad tracks going down his right side.
The nurse examining Abe stood up and looked at him satisfactorily.
"You're all set," she said. "Now don't go over-exerting yourself. I don't want to be stitching you up again any time soon."
Abe thanked her and hopped down from the table. Audrey shifted nervously, not quite meeting his eyes.
"Well, I'd better get going," she said quickly, "I just wanted to come by and see how you were."
She turned to leave, but stopped when Abe spoke.
"Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay for a cup of coffee? Hellboy and I were just going to get one."
Audrey smiled slightly.
"That sounds nice."
The three of them walked out of the infirmary towards the staff room, Abe and Audrey following Hellboy.
"So I hear you're interested in hell hounds..."
"She likes you."
Hellboy flipped through one of the large tomes that Abe was currently reading, smoking another cigar. Abe swam languidly past the glass of the aquarium, kicking with his feet as he stretched his arms over his head. He brought them back down quickly and took in a sharp breath at the stab of pain from his injured side. He would really have to take it easy or that nurse would have his hide.
"And how do you know that?" he asked, turning around in a graceful arc and making another pass. "She seemed pretty distant to me."
Hellboy rolled his eyes, "Jeez Abe, for a guy who reads four books a day, you're pretty slow."
Abe glared at him, "And what exactly does that mean?"
"You mean you didn't notice the way she looked at you? Come on Abe, you've gotta be pretty thick not to notice that!"
Hellboy put the book back on its stand, "All I'm saying is, next time she comes to visit, find someplace other than the staff room to have coffee, and be a bit more observant."
With that, he walked out the door, leaving Abe with his thoughts. Hellboy had put the book back upside-down, but Abe didn't notice.
