This was so much fun to write.

Sam was beginning to wonder if her taking Lara to the hospital was becoming a regular thing. For how bright her roommate was, it really was astounding just how stupid and reckless she was capable of being. As they sat together in the emergency room, Sam observed Lara with her brows creased together in concern as the latter clutched at her right shoulder and hissed choice profanity. Sam was almost completely certain that Lara had dislocated her shoulder considering she was in extreme pain and unable to move her arm.

"Hopefully they're able to bring you back so you can get some relief soon," Sam remarked at length.

"I'm just hoping I get taken back at all," Lara scowled, "I never have to wait like this back at home. 'Best medical system in the world,' my ass."

"How often do you go to the hospital that you're able to draw comparisons?" Sam asked, raising a brow.

"I'm just saying, it's been nearly an hour! What the fuck qualifies as an adequate emergency if not a shoulder dislocation?!" Lara demanded with her voice raised, drawing a few glares from other hospital-goers in the lobby.

"I know, but try to relax."

"Why should I?"

"Because you're shoulder's going to hurt a lot worse if you let yourself get tense."

"I'm already tense! And of course this happens when I don't have travel insurance. I didn't think I'd need it for a week abroad, but here we fucking are." Sam blinked in shock.

"...You don't have travel insurance?"

"No."

"Fuck, Lara!" Sam blurted out, drawing even more glares from the people around them. She ran a hand through her hair, "This isn't like England! Do you have any idea how much a dislocated shoulder costs?!"

"Five hundred?"

"No."

"A thousand?"

"No! It costs a lot more than that. A lot more. Try, like, five to ten thousand."

"What?!" Lara's voice cracked like a whip throughout the lobby.

"Lara?" Came the call of a nurse who had just emerged into the lobby.

"I'm not going," Lara said in a hoarse whisper.

"You have to."

"I can't afford-"

"So you're just gonna let your shoulder stay popped out of place? Because that's a dumb idea."

"I'll look up how to do it myself and-"

"And what if you did some serious damage and tore something? How will you know? What will you do then?"

"I'm not-"

"Lara, I swear to fucking god," Sam said in a dangerous tone, "if you don't go with that nurse right now, I'm dragging you by your ponytail. We will figure the bill out. Go." Lara hung her head like the admonished child she was.

"Will you at least go with me?"

"That's what I was planning on doing because I know you don't like hospitals. But if you want me to do that, you better get up right now." Lara pursed her lips and nodded in understanding. When she got to her feet and approached the nurse, Sam followed suit.

"I'm Lara," Lara said before gesturing towards Sam with her left hand, "is it alright if my friend comes with us?"

"Yeah," the nurse nodded, "come with me right this way." She led the way through a door beside the reception desk and down the corridor behind it, stopping at a room to the right and extending her hand out to the side to indicate they should enter. Lara and Sam sat in silence as the nurse took Lara's blood pressure and temperature, and remained quiet even after the nurse left. It was a few moments before anyone spoke.

"Sorry for being so difficult in the lobby," Lara murmured.

"It's okay, I understand," Sam assured her, "you're stressed out and in a lot of pain right now. Your behavior is pretty typical and expected."

"That doesn't excuse it though."

"No," Sam admitted, "it doesn't. But you're also apologizing so it's not a big deal. We're all good. Honestly I think the people in the lobby are more bothered than I am." The nurse came back into the room at that moment.

"We're going to need an x-ray of the area, just to make sure nothing's broken," the nurse looked over at Sam, "would you mind waiting here?"

"Of course." Sam watched Lara and the nurse disappear through the doorway, and then she was alone with her thoughts for the moment. Supposing Lara's medical bill was ten thousand or something bizarre, what could they do in that scenario? Lara would be out of work for a few weeks with her injury, and Sam hated the thought of Lara dumping her entire savings into one little ice skating accident.

Maybe I have to talk to Uncle after all, Sam thought to herself. She couldn't exactly ask her parents to help Lara. But would Lara even approve of Sam seeking her Uncle's help, or would Lara simply get angry considering how fiercely independent she was? Sam supposed that they'd have to wait and see what the damage was first. Lara and the nurse reentered the room a few moments later, and Lara took a seat on the edge of the bed near Sam.

"The doctor will be with you in just a moment," the nurse said before leaving once more.

"It better actually be a moment," Lara said under her breath. About ten minutes later, a doctor in a white coat entered.

"Hello Ms. Croft, I'm Dr. Browne," the doctor said as he entered the room looking at his clipboard, "I took a look at your x-ray and the good news is that you didn't fracture anything, however your shoulder is dislocated and will need to be reset. May I take a look at the area?"

"Of course," Lara said. Sam winced when Lara shrugged off her jacket and rolled up her shirt sleeve to reveal bumps and indentations where there should not have been bumps and indentations. The area was also visibly swollen and mottled bruises were beginning to appear.

"Alright, ordinarily I would give patients the opportunity to try a reduction without analgesia, but given how swollen the area is I don't think I can perform the reduction with just lidocaine. I'm probably going to have to give you a shot of propofol for the procedure."

"I'd rather you didn't," Lara remarked dryly.

"Excuse me?"

"To be pragmatic with you, doctor, I don't have travel insurance and I'd rather not be charged for a sedative on top of everything else."

"While I can certainly empathize with the uniqueness of your situation, the area is too swollen-"

"And why is that, doctor? Huh, maybe it's because you made me wait an entire hour in the lobby. I'm not taking the sodding sedative just so you can milk me down to my last pence. Just pop the damned thing back into place."

"I'm trying to tell you that that's simply not possible-"

"And I'm trying to tell you that's not my problem or my fault!" Lara was nearly shouting at that point, and Sam chewed her bottom lip nervously, "so instead of trying to scam me because you people screwed up, just fix the damn problem!" Sam had never seen Lara so frustrated before, though she had to admit that seeing Lara so passionate with a few disheveled hairs artistically falling into her face was quite alluring. Dr. Browne let out a sigh before speaking.

"Look, I can try to do it without the sedatives, but it's going to hurt like childbirth and if you have muscle spasms? You're going to be in even more pain and have to take the sedatives anyway."

"Can you please just try? I'm a student working through school, I can't be paying a bill for several thousand pounds."

"Alright. Try to relax, then."

Sam saw Lara's good hand slide discreetly toward her, and she took the hand in her own. Dr. Browne put one hand on Lara's shoulder and another on her wrist and gently adducted the arm at a ninety degree angle. He then began to slowly rotate the arm externally, and almost immediately Lara drew in a sharp breath through her teeth squeezed Sam's hand so hard that Sam feared it may break. Doctor Browne paused for a moment, then resumed what he was doing. Two more times Lara squeezed Sam's hand before the doctor set her arm down and gave up.

"Look Ms. Croft, you're having too many muscle spasms for me to work with the joint. I have to give you the propofol."

"Are you sure-?" Lara began.

"I'm sorry, but all this is going to accomplish is making your injury worse."

"...Fine," Lara finally relented. The doctor nodded and briefly exited the room, returning moments later with a fluid-filled syringe. Lara once again squeezed Sam's hand as the doctor injected the sedative, and within two minutes Lara's head lolled forward and she was rendered unconscious.

"She'll only be out for five to ten minutes," Dr. Browne assured Sam. He then put a hand back on Lara's shoulder and wrist and bent the arm just as he had before. He slowly rotated the joint externally, continuing until Sam heard an audible pop from Lara's shoulder, "There we go," he said with a hint of satisfaction in his voice as he slowly returned her arm to its natural resting position. "So," he began once he was finished, "once she's awake, we'll take another x-ray to make sure everything's in the right place, make sure she has motion in her arm again, put her in a sling, and then conduct a neurovascular examination. After that, I'll send you two on your way. As far as aftercare goes, just make sure she ices it regularly and she can take some ibuprofen for the pain and swelling. I'm going to give her a packet with instructions when she wakes up as well."

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"She's going to be a little bit disoriented when she wakes up, it's better to tell someone who is more aware and alert."

"Fair enough," Sam hesitated before continuing, "is there really nothing you can do about the costs?" Dr. Browne's eyes drifted downward.

"Look, I've been in this field for over ten years now. I'm well aware that the system is messed up–we charge ten dollars just for a band-aid. But unfortunately, no there is nothing I can personally do without losing my job. My best advice is to call the number on the bill and try to get the charges reduced somehow. Otherwise, try to set up a payment plan."

"I thought the Hippocratic Oath was to do no harm?"

"Ideals and reality are often two very radically different concepts. I'm sorry again."

Four thousand two hundred and five dollars and sixty-nine cents. That was apparently how much a dislocated shoulder cost in America. As they made their way back to Sam's home together, Sam couldn't help but fixate on Lara's demure demeanor. She wanted nothing more than to help and alleviate Lara's stress, but she wasn't even in a position to help herself at that point. They continued their entire walk in sullen silence, only breaking it when they walked into Sam's building together and entered the elevator.

"This is bullshit," Lara declared.

"I know," Sam replied gently, "but we'll figure it out."

"How? I was going to use that money for tuition and a flat, and now I'm going to be out of work for a while because of this damn shoulder."

"Breathe," Sam urged her, "you have scholarships, right? Can those be used for an initial payment? Maybe you can do that and set up a payment plan with the hospital?"

"They aren't getting a single pound out of me," Lara spat, "can I use your phone to make some calls at some point? I don't have international service."

"Yeah, of course you can," Sam said as they exited the elevator.

"Thank you."

"How's your shoulder feeling?" Sam asked as she rifled around her pockets for her key.

"Awful," Lara said, fiddling with her sling as she entered the residence behind Sam.

"I'm sorry…"

"You're back!" came Naomi's voice from down the hall, "Did you get me anything?" she asked as she drew closer, stopping dead in her tracks when she beheld Lara, "what happened?"

"Lara got hurt ice skating. Needless to say, I completely forgot about running to the store for you. Sorry, kid."

"That's okay. Sorry you got hurt," Naomi said to Lara earnestly, "I'm gonna go back to playing COD then."

"Okay, have fun!" Sam said, turning her head to Lara as Naomi returned to her room, "Now you, Missy, need to ice up."

"Can I at least change first?"

"Sure I'll meet you in your room with an ice pack in a bit." Sam made for her room in the meantime and, after shutting the door behind her, set about swapping her clothes out for bedtime attire. She had just pulled on a pair of pajama pants when she heard a knock at her door. She strode over and pulled the door open to reveal Lara standing in the doorway still in her day's garb.

"I…need help," Lara said as she scratched the back of her neck.

"You need…?" Realization dawned on Sam as her eyebrows shot up in surprise, "Oh! Alright," she said quickly, not wishing to make Lara feel more awkward than she doubtlessly already did, "let's go." She strode past Lara with purpose and made for the guest room. Once they were both within its confines, she shut and locked the door behind them. "Okay, take the sling off." Lara complied and Sam set about working her shirt off.

Try as Sam might to not objectify Lara in such a vulnerable state, it took every bit of restraint she had to not show her shock and awe at the muscle that rippled through Lara's abdomen once she had worked Lara's shirt off. It was a good thing that Lara refused to make eye contact, because Sam could feel herself going red in the face. She'd certainly fantasized about Lara's body in her most private moments, but even those idealized fantasies paled in comparison to the real thing. Sam was so transfixed that she didn't even notice the darkening bruises on Lara's shoulder for a few moments. Lara's abs briefly flexed when Lara cleared her throat, and Sam tried to swallow but found herself incapable of doing so.

"You need help with the bra too?" Sam asked as casually as she could.

"I…yes," Lara said, her face now adopting a peculiar shade of red as well. She continued to determinedly avoid eye contact.

"Turn around, then," Sam commanded. It was then that Sam's jaw dropped upon beholding Lara's back. Lara's spine was a deep canyon, diverging from which were streams creased into the rolling hills of muscle. Sam took a breath to ground herself again, and promptly unhooked Lara's bra and slid it off of her shoulders. "Okay, could you turn around again so I can get your shirt on? I promise I won't look." True to her word, Sam did her best to keep her eyes averted when Lara turned around, and she started working Lara's bad arm through a sleeve.

Try as she did to respect Lara's modesty, Sam accidentally peeped Lara's chest. And if Lara's body was the land, then her breasts were most certainly the fruit it bore. Sam quickly averted her eyes and redoubled her efforts to get Lara's shirt on and conceal her anatomy from view. Once Lara was covered and decent again, Sam quickly reached for the discarded sling and put the strap over Lara's head before guiding her arm into its slot.

"Do you need any more help?" Sam asked once she was done. When Lara shook her head, she continued, "Okay, I'll be back with some ice and ibuprofen then." Sam made haste when exiting the room and proceeded down the hall where, once she was certain she was out of earshot, she leaned back against the wall and buried her face in her hands. "Fuck, fuck, fuck…" she hissed into her hands in an attempt to alleviate some of her pent-up frustration.

"Everything alright?" came Antonia's voice from the left, causing Sam to start. Sam narrowed her eyes at her mother once she had regained her bearings.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Sam demanded, brushing past her mother and making for the kitchen.

"Well," Antonia was following Sam as she spoke, "I heard that Lara got hurt and I-" Sam whipped around on the spot to face her mother in fury.

"Oh, so now you're eavesdropping on me?"

"I just wanted to see if she's alright," Antonia said as Sam went to the fridge.

"She's fine, thanks for asking," Sam replied brusquely as she opened the freezer and pulled out an ice pack, "you can leave now."

"Why are you being like this?" Antonia demanded. Sam slammed the freezer door shut and slapped the ice pack she was holding down on the island.

"You wanna do this?" Sam shot at her, "Do you really wanna do this right now?!"

"Yes, I do."

"Okay, Antonia. You wanna know why I'm like this? Maybe it has something to do with you deciding that you don't give a fuck anymore when I was ten years old. Maybe it has something to do with Naomi not having an adequate parental figure in her life, so I had to fill in for you and Hisao. But you know what? At least she won't turn out to be as much of a 'fuck up' as me because she doesn't know the pain of her mother just giving up on being her parent and abandoning her to the wolves. Because I at least understand that being a role model to a child isn't a part time job that you get to do only when it's convenient for you. Maybe, just maybe," Sam let out an exasperated laugh, "I'm like this because you did nothing to intervene this morning and would have fucking let Hisao hit Naomi if I didn't step in!" Sam was shouting at that point, "So honestly, Antonia, from the bottom of my heart, fuck you! You are a pathetic excuse for a mother and I want nothing to do with you! That is why I'm being like this!"

Sam snatched up Lara's ice pack and stormed out of the kitchen, pausing only to retrieve ibuprofen from the guest bathroom's linen closet. With all necessary items for Lara's care in tow, she made her way into the guest room. If Lara had heard Sam's altercation with her mother, she didn't indicate it when Sam entered. In fact, it seemed as though she'd been asleep with the way her eyes lazily drifted open to regard Sam from where she lay on the bed.

"You asleep already? Sorry, did I wake you up?" Sam asked. Lara shook her head.

"It hurts too much for me to be able to sleep right now."

"Well, I have some ice and ibuprofen for you…although I forgot to grab you a glass of water."

"That's alright, I'll just dry-swallow it. Thank you," she said as Sam handed everything to her. Sam chewed on her bottom lip as she considered Lara.

"Want me to grab my laptop so we can watch something while you ice your shoulder? It might help keep you distracted from the pain."

"That sounds lovely, actually."

"Okay, I'll be right back." Sam went out to her room and retrieved her laptop from where it was charging on her desk. With her fetch side quest completed, she returned to the guest room, "You watch anime?" she asked as she plopped down onto the bed next to Lara and flipped her laptop open.

"Subs only, of course," Lara replied, and Sam grinned.

"That's what I like to hear. We're watching One Piece, then."

Halfway through the second episode, Lara was already fast asleep next to Sam.

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