It's The Least We Can Do – Trent Sawyer
The large khaki green tent with the big bright red first aid insignia on the side stood out in the middle of the dusty decimated Afghanistan town that Bravo found themselves in but what was more alarming was the lines of people with their children that had bought them to be vaccinated during a humanitarian aid crisis. Trent looked up as he administered another vaccination to another child, he had lost count at how many injections he had given or rather he stopped counting once he hit seventy five and looked up to see that the line had gotten longer, while working alongside other medical personnel from various military organisations and world charities like Doctors Without Borders who were medically checking the children and their parent(s) before any vaccination was administered to them. It was one of the largest vaccination efforts that he had seen before let alone been a part of.
"Trent." Lisa called softly seeing as the child was led away by her parent as soon as Trent had administered the vaccination watching as he disposed of the needle into the special sharps disposal container that was sitting next to him. She knew he had been working tirelessly and wanted him to take a break knowing he was the only one who had not yet. "Hydrate." She held out the bottle of water that she had pulled from the cooler for him to take knowing the rest of the guys were milling about.
Trent pulled off the pair of gloves that he had on hating how sweaty his hands felt before he took the ice cold bottle of water, cracked the cap off, and took a few large mouthfuls. "Thanks. How's Brock doing?" Trent had not even thought about stopping Brock before he walked into the tent but had quickly herded him out when he went ghostly pale as he caught the glint of sun off the various needles that were being used to vaccinate several children at once. He had meant to check on him earlier but he had gotten busy with child after child being stood in front of him or held by a parent to be vaccinated that he had not had a chance.
Lisa pursed her lips wishing she had had the forethought to stop Brock from walking inside but she knew they were all blaming themselves. It had been a few hours since they had first arrived but Brock was still suffering from the effects of his panic inducing fear of needles. "Clay is sitting with him and Cerb while Jason, Ray and Sonny patrol." She kept it simple and light on details but Trent pinned her with a look that said he wanted all of the facts. She sighed and brushed a strand of hair that had fallen into her face back behind her ear. "He is still freaked out, trembling, and Clay is working on keeping him distracted. I have Mandy and Eric on their way to collect him, Cerb and Clay and return them to base." She had already arranged it with Jason and Eric.
"Is he on the verge of crashing?" Trent asked suspecting that he would have been as he knew that needles terrified Brock and he did not even have to be the one getting the injection for his body to go into panic mode.
Lisa knew that Trent was concerned, could hear it in his voice. "Clay, Eric and Mandy will get him back to base and into bed with Cerb cuddling into him. Yeah, he will crash pretty soon." She eventually gave up on the pretence of pretending that Brock was alright because Trent knew exactly how he reacted and how long the effects could last.
"Make sure to remind Clay that he needs to put the pillow on the edge of the bed once Brock is asleep." Trent swapped his half drunken bottle of water out for a fresh pair of gloves knowing that the more children they vaccinated now that the less likely the spread of disease would be which only benefitted more people. A part of him wanted to go and check on Brock but he knew that the rest of his brothers would take care of him.
Lisa reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "I will. Make sure you finish that water." She told him before she left, and before she left the tent she glanced over to see that he was already vaccinating another child.
Trent smiled softly as Samara, one of the nurse volunteers, bought over a little girl; he had met her a few times as she was a former Navy nurse and he knew she was sincere and genuine in her care and treatment of children. "Who do we have here?" Trent asked as he readied another vaccination for the little girl as Samara knelt down in front of him with the little girl propped up on her knee.
"This is Esin, she's nineteen months." Samara smiled as she jiggled her knee making Esin giggle like only a little girl could.
"How is she?" Trent asked knowing she looked to little to be nineteen months but being under developed was not unusual given the famine and conditions that these children often lived in as he reached out and very gently brushed the back of his glove covered finger over the back of her hollowed cheek.
Samara smiled as she rubbed her hand over Esin's back watching as the little girl babbled happily towards Trent. It was easy to see that the girl was touch and affection starved as she had been one of fifteen children that had been bought in by the local orphanage that was run by a couple of nuns. "Malnourished and not hitting her developmental milestones but she is better than some that we have seen today." Samara had enough experience to know that some children died before they could help them and even if they managed to help them in time, it was a sad fact of life in these parts of the world.
Trent nodded knowing it was an all too common sight that he had seen as he gently took hold of Esin's arm and as gently yet as quickly as he could vaccinated her. "That's a good girl. There we go." Trent murmured softly as he disposed of the needle and rubbed his gloved thumb over the injection site to work the vaccination into her bloodstream.
"You are good with kids. I haven't seen one of them cry yet that has been vaccinated by you." Samara commented knowing that it took some serious skill to vaccinate several kids without having any of them cry or scream or pull away.
Trent smiled as he shook his head. "These kids are just braver than they should be." He shook off the compliment as Esin caught his finger in her little hand making him pause in his movements.
Samara smiled at the small interaction before her attention was drawn to a couple more of the young orphans who the doctors were just finishing up examining. "Could you hold her for a few minutes?" She asked knowing they needed another set of hands to get the children sorted.
Trent hesitated briefly before he reached out and picked Esin up transferring her from Samara's knee to his own copying the light jiggling that she had been doing which seemed to keep the little girl content taking notice of how light she really was. "Hey there pretty girl." He said as he let her grab his fingers again with her tiny hands as Samara left them on their own as he looked down at her wondering what her life would be like if she had been born elsewhere in the world, and what had led her to being in an orphanage but the possibilities that came to mind as answers were not ones he wanted to think about right at the moment. He smiled as she leaned back into him so he carefully shifted her so that she was sitting in his lap with her back rested against his stomach so that she was fully supported, and that he could continue to vaccinate as the line was backing up as the doctors were moving through patients faster then they were vaccinating. He made sure that Esin was encased in his arms before he pulled on a fresh pair of gloves and waved the next child over as a volunteer led them over and began vaccinating once more as he listened to Esin babble away happily and despite all the sadness of the day it was a bright spot.
SEAL TEAM
Trent's hand was aching as he dropped the last needle and syringe into the bright neon yellow sharps disposal bin knowing that they were out of the vaccinations but they had managed to successfully examine and vaccinate every single child that had come through the tent then pulled off his gloves and disposed of them. The sun was beginning to fade as he stood up and made his way out of the tent to where his brothers and Lisa minus Brock and Clay were waiting ready to leave and return to base for the night; they had spent the day alternating between patrolling the outer perimeter of the tent, and interacting with the locals as much as they could despite the language barrier that they had.
"You good brother? Jason asked as he watched as Trent stopped in front of them and stretched his back out clearly sore from sitting the majority of the day administering vaccination after vaccination as he had only caught glimpses of him throughout the day through the crowds of people as he worked away.
Trent turned and looked around at the handful of local people that were still lingering around that had been examined and had their children vaccinated before he turned back to the group. "Yeah. Any word from base?" Trent asked and it was quickly translated into any word from base about Brock.
Lisa smiled at Trent's question or rather what he was not saying. "I spoke to Mandy a couple of hours ago and she said that Clay had put Brock to bed with Cerb before he took a nap himself." She knew that Clay might have been napping but he would have been alert for any changes in Brock or any noise from Cerb and that he would have been worried and distracted if someone else had gone back with Brock.
"That would be right, blondie gets to nap while we sweat our asses off in the desert." Sonny groused although it lacked any heat as he knew that Brock needed someone to keep an eye on him after he reacted to the needles but he would not have minded if it was him as being out of the desert sun was appealing.
Trent smiled at Sonny's grumbling before he looked back over his shoulder catching sight of Samara climbing onto the bus before she looked his way and gave him a short wave which he returned before she disappeared onto the bus and out of his sight as it pulled out.
"Anything you want to tell us brother?" Sonny teased having caught the quick interaction and the longing look before Trent turned back to them.
"Nah brother. We should get back." Trent tried to shift the attention away from him as he certainly did not like it but he also knew that travelling at night was dangerous in the region they were in, and he wanted to check on Brock despite knowing that there was not much he could do other than get a decent amount of sleep however it still would make him feel better to see and check on his brother.
"Nah huh, not until you tell us who that nice lady was that you were makin' flirty eyes at." Sonny was not going to let it go as he caught the slight flush that rose on Trent's cheeks.
Trent shook his head and could not help it as his eyes flicked to the bus that was fading into the distance along with the last of the light.
"Everyone in the van, Ray you are driving. And then Trent can answer your question Sonny." Jason ordered seeing that Sonny was about to complain but quickly stopped it as he smirked at Trent as there was no way he was getting out of answering the question that the Texan had posed. Jason was sure that he heard Trent groan and mutter something under his breath even as he climbed into the van with everyone else. Jason saw the smirk that Ray sent his way as he climbed into the front passenger seat beside him but said nothing as he started the van and pulled out.
Sonny was not about to let it go as he turned around and looked at Trent who had sat beside Lisa in the hope that she would not tease him. "C'mon Trent, tell us about that lady there." He jabbed as he twirled his finger loosely in the direction that the bus went.
Sonny really is like a dog with a bone, Trent thought as he shook his head. "She's a nurse Sonny, we have worked together before, that's it." He hoped that Sonny would drop it but he knew that he would not.
"Played a little medic and nurse action, did we?" Sonny wiggled his eyebrows at Trent.
"Sonny." The warning growl from Trent did not go unnoticed by anyone in the van. He was in no mood to be questioned as he turned his head and looked out the window at the fading city.
"So you did." Sonny smirked continuing to press Trent's buttons as he completely ignored the growl from him.
"Sonny." Lisa warned as she had felt Trent tense beside her.
"Oh come on, a bit of knockin' boots never hurt anyone, and it definitely ain't gonna hurt with someone as fine as that nurse." Sonny continued to wind Trent up.
Jason turned around to look as he cringed at Sonny's words especially after the tone that Trent had used which usually would be enough to shut anyone up. "Sonny enough! That's an order!" Jason usually would not step in but it was clear to him that Trent was tired and not in the mood to listen to Sonny being disparaging. There was clearly some history there that Trent was not ready to divulge, and Jason could understand if what they had seen today was wearing on him after all it had gotten to him but he had been able to step away and have a decent reprieve.
"What? C'mon Jase! Trent's making googly eyes at a nurse and we aren't allowed to ask anything?" Sonny protested petulantly as he turned around to look at Jason trying to convince him to let him continue poking at Trent but the glare from him was enough to tell him to shut up. He huffed and settled back down in his seat as he stuck a toothpick in his mouth.
Trent pressed his forehead against the glass as he exhaled harshly as he watched on as they passed through the decimated town seeing the squalid conditions and the kids that lingered on the dirty streets that he had seen and vaccinated earlier in the day as Samara's words run around in his head about malnutrition and developmental issues that the children faced.
SEAL TEAM
Clay threw the blanket back over Brock as he had rolled over to grab the pillow and it had ended up falling to the floor. To Clay he still looked paler than he usually was, and he could see that the tremors were still lightly running through his body from the residual panic from earlier in the day. He turned at the sound of the door opening and relaxed as he watched Trent walk through the door. "Hi." Clay spoke softly as he finished tucking the blanket around him before he gave Cerb a pat as the dog had waited patiently while he fixed the blanket before he wriggled back in beside Brock.
Trent let out a breath seeing that Clay was tending to Brock just as he would have. "Hey, how is he?" Trent moved closer to get a proper look although he wished that Brock was awake so he could examine him. He did not want to wake him up so he was going to wait until he woke before he did examine him.
Clay looked at Trent and stepped back so that he had the room to look at Brock. "He's been asleep since we got back but he is quite restless, doesn't quite seem to want to settle. Keeps kicking the blanket off too." He paused and drew his bottom lip in between his teeth for a few seconds before he released it. "I managed to get him to drink a whole bottle of water on the way back but he was fighting to keep it down the whole way."
Trent was not surprised that Brock had been fighting nausea but he was surprised that he was unsettled in his sleep as usually after an episode with his fear of needles he would sleep soundly and hardly move so they could leave him be. Trent reached out and gently palmed Brock's forehead wanting to make sure that he was not coming down with anything by running a fever which he did not seem to be which was a relief. "Mind staying with him for a bit longer while I grab a shower?" Trent was hesitant to leave Brock as he really did not like that he was restless but he needed a shower as he was sweaty and had a fine layer of dirt coating every bit of his exposed skin.
"I'm good brother. Mandy stayed with him when I went to shower earlier." Clay understood the need to shower and he would never begrudge Trent for taking a bit of time for himself.
"Thanks." Trent moved away from Brock after giving Cerb a quick pat before he grabbed his shower kit, towel and a clean set of clothes. He took one last look at Brock before he left the room again and crossed the camp heading for the showers.
Trent groaned as he stripped off feeling as the fine particles of dirt and sand dropped down around him before he stepped into the cold dribble of water but it would suffice as it felt good against his sweat slicked skin. He ran his soaped up hand over his arm feeling the thick scars that were permanently etched into his skin before he closed his eyes as they made him think of Samara as she ended up being the first person he saw when he was finally aware of what was going on around him as the medicated haze had cleared mostly. She had reassured him so calmly that he was okay, told him where he was and what had happened, and stayed with him until someone returned to be with him, but that there had forged a lifelong friendship which saw them cross paths from time to time. She had told him there was always a spot for him if he ever decided it was time to step away from the action as they always needed volunteers with medical knowledge and treatment experience, and the offer had always enticed him as it was something that he kept in the back of his mind but he wondered how she saw what she did every day and how it did not get to her.
"Trent?!" Jason called making Trent snap out of his thoughts and huff loudly as he hit his forehead against the wall of the shower wishing that he could just get a few minutes to himself but he knew Jason would not have interrupted him if it was not important, or at least he hoped that was the case. "Sorry brother but Brock's awake and he doesn't look very well. If I did not know better I would think he was panicking again." Jason did not want to worry Trent but he had taken one look at Brock when he walked into see that he was awake and looking worse by the minute as Cerb whined next to him. It was always better to advise Trent immediately of any health issues as it prevented the medic stressing out, or at least reduced his stress a bit as catching things earlier generally made them easier to treat.
"I'll be there in a minute." Trent hurried to wash the soapy lather that had formed off before he turned off the water and grabbed his towel, drying off then dressing as quickly as he could.
Jason watched as Trent walked around the corner, his hair was still dripping wet and his clothes were sticking to his damp skin as he clearly had not dried himself off very well, but Jason knew better than to comment as he fell into step beside him. "He's trembling, is really pale, and seems lethargic. More than usual." He reported wondering what about this time was causing such a prolonged effect on Brock but knowing better than to ask as they made it across base in record time.
Trent barrelled through the door ahead of Jason pushing all of his thoughts about his past, about Samara, and about the children he had seen today aside as he zeroed in on Brock who was sitting up with his feet hanging over the edge of the top bunk while Ray and Clay stood on either side to make sure that he did not fall as they each had a hand on his elbow. "Hey brother, what's going on?" Trent asked moving to stand in front of Brock whose eyes were half lidded and he seemed short of breath as if he was panicking again but his body was to exhausted to actually exhibit the panic and have a full reaction which Trent was grateful for.
Brock blinked heavily wondering when the rest of his brothers got back as he fought the nausea that was slowly bubbling away and tried to breathe in and out rhythmically. He flinched as Trent reached out and placed his fingers on his neck checking his pulse.
"Here brother, I want you to drink some water, take nice slow sips. I know you aren't feeling well but it will help then we are going to let you go back to sleep." Trent pushed a water bottle that Jason had handed him into Brock's shaking hand having already uncapped it waiting and watching until he slowly raised it up to his mouth and took a small sip but even that seemed hard for him to do, and it was clear that he was fighting the feeling of being nauseous.
Brock wavered and he would have slipped off the edge of the bunk if not for his brothers holding him up as Trent took the bottle of water away from him and handed it off to Jason who was doing his best not to appear antsy and stay out of Trent's way as Brock was already crowded enough.
"Okay, let's get you back down Brock." Trent knew that short of giving Brock a Xanax there was nothing else he could do, and he was hesitant to give him one because of the state he was in, so it was best for him to just sleep it off. Trent stepped back and let Clay and Ray help Brock to lay back down before he was covered up with the blanket with his eyes closed.
"I am in for the night." Trent told Jason without an ounce of hesitation despite having hoped for some time alone but he was not going to leave Brock especially not in the state he was in as he moved to put his things away.
"I have a book to finish." That was Clay's way of saying he was staying in for the night too which was not a surprise as he stepped away and quickly topped Cerb's bowls off with fresh kibble and water before he climbed up into his own bunk so that he had a clear line of sight to Brock.
"Okay. You two want me to have anything bought over for you?" Jason asked knowing that he and Ray had to join Eric, Lisa and Mandy in TOC to go over some various bits and pieces but he wanted to make sure his team was alright. Sonny was sitting by the fire pit when he had last looked, and it was probably for the best given the goading mood that he seemed to be in whereas Trent was not in the mood to be goaded which Jason could understand as he was sure the day had been draining on him. There was also something unsettling in Trent's manner that Jason could not quite pinpoint either which he would keep an eye on and hope it resolved itself before an intervention was needed.
"No." Trent answered shortly as he looked over Brock once more seeing that he was still trembling but it looked to be subsiding a little bit at least although it still was not enough for him to be comfortable with.
"I'm good." Clay answered already thumbing through his book to find the page that he was on although Jason doubted he would get much further in the book as he would spend more time keeping an eye on Brock than anything else.
"We will be over in TOC if anything changes." Ray checked his watch knowing that they were already late but Brock took precedent which he knew Eric, Mandy and Lisa would understand but he still nodded his head towards the door after he had captured Jason's attention.
Jason knew that Ray was hurrying him up. "Alright, I will be back to check in once we are finished." He said before he followed Ray out making sure the door was closed firmly behind him to keep the humid air out of the cool room.
Trent laid on his bed and stuffed a pillow under his head as he struggled to get comfortable as his entire body was rigid as the unease he felt was suffocating. He blinked as he stared up at the wooden boards that held the top bunk as his mind strayed back to Samara and the children that he had vaccinated. He really wondered why people who lived in a country that was in the midst of a humanitarian crisis would keep bringing children into the world knowing that they would be raised in poverty, face all sorts of diseases, become overly familiar with the feeling of starvation which lead to malnourishment and developmental problems, but then he scolded himself as he knew that it was not fair to think that way as everyone deserved to be parents even those in impoverished nations. It was hard to see what he had but helping by administering vaccinations helped him as he had the knowledge that at least the children would not suffer from the terrible diseases that they were being vaccinated for considering they already went through more than enough suffering.
Trent sighed softly as he scrubbed his hands over his face feeling how dry his skin was before he let himself think about all of the other things that were on his brain. He had never claimed himself to be paternal but he could see the appeal of having children, had seen the joy that children bought to those around him, had watched as some of his brothers had become doting dads, and sometimes he found himself longing for that but then he would remember the job he did and he could not bring himself to do that. Inevitably that thinking obscurely led to him moving to think about Samara and the work that she did in some of the most dangerous parts of the world and how she had been the light in the darkness in one of the worst times of his life when he was not sure whether he would ever operate again. She was one of those people that he could not see for a long time but somehow they always managed to pick up right where they left off, stayed overly casual, and there was something insanely comforting about it.
There was way to much going on in Trent's head and he wondered how the hell all of this thinking had stemmed from spending the day administering vaccinations to children. What he did know was that the children were amazing because despite being hungry, dirty, and in threadbare clothes, they were still happy which really was a strength in itself. He shifted as he heard a soft whine from Cerb and his attention once again shifted to Brock as he climbed out of his bunk to check on him once more seeing that he was restless in his sleep just as Clay had said he had been. He waited a few moments until Brock settled again knowing that the day had been hard on them both for two totally different reasons but it would have lasting effects on him while Brock would be recovered by the morning at least until the next time he saw a needle. He crawled back into bed and closed his eyes knowing he would not be sleeping for the rest of the night as he had plenty more to think about.