"How can I help, Paladin?"
Scribe Haylen knelt by the bed at Nora's side and opened up her medic bag, then looked at Nora expectantly.
"Are you fully stocked?"
"Always, ma'am."
"Good. He needs a couple of stimpaks. I have plenty of those, but he's also gonna need some med-x. To start."
"Whoa whoa whoa. Is the doctor going to ask the patient how he feels?"
"Sorry babe. No doctor. You're stuck with me and Scribe Haylen. Besides, the patient isn't known for being forthcoming about how he feels."
"I don't want the med-x."
"You're going to need it, Deacon."
"I can handle pain. I'll be fine."
"Oh, for fuck's sake." She stood up and started pacing. "Ok, everyone. Could y'all give us a minute?" She added "Please," when they all just stared at her.
She must have had The Look when she spoke, because they all did as she asked and headed to the front rooms. Even Rhys left without some kind of smart ass comment
After they were gone, Nora pulled her chair closer to the bed and took one of Deacon's hands.
"Deacon..."
"You know how I feel about chems. So what gives with bringing on the heavy stuff, boss?"
"I want to make absolutely sure you understand how serious this is."
"Oh believe me," he said, rubbing his bruised sternum with his free hand. "I do."
"I don't think you do. Sweetie, we're about to do an emergency field surgery on you, in less than ideal conditions, and once Haylen and I start, you absolutely cannot move. It's one of those "a centimeter in either direction away from what we're aiming for is disaster." situations."
"You have a terrible bedside manner, you know that?"
"I'm not trying to scare you. I just... look, I know it's hard for you to let your guard down. But you trust me, right?"
"More than you could ever know."
"I'm glad. Babe, I don't know what hurt you so much that you've decided bullshitting your way through life is your only option, but I promise you, I am not going anywhere. I will be right here with you. I know you don't like not being in control of your mental faculties, but I am here and I am not going to let anything happen to you. You can let go just long enough for us to take care of this, and I promise you that when we're done, if you tell me no more drugs, then no more drugs. You can suffer to your heart's content. Will you trust me to do that for you?"
She sat with him for another moment or two in silence before she went and got the others. For a heavy moment she really thought he was going to just outright refuse her, but finally he nodded in agreement. Then Nora took a deep breath and went to get the others.
God she hoped she was making the right decision.