And yet another big round of thanks to supernae! Seriously, where did everybody else go? Oh well. With only four or so more chapters under way, let's move on!
Chapter 12: Get Well Soon
A few days passed since Claire first checked into the clinic. Both Gray and Mary, the jovial farmer's usual friends, haven't heard a word from her since. Soon, word got out that she has been diagnosed for a severe terminal disease, a problem all too familiar to the town thanks to the presence of the resident Chicken Farm proprietor. Doctor Trent eventually came out to refute the rumor, claiming that it's nothing more then a short-term illness that will subside with proper treatment and a few day's rest. However, the populace remained largely skeptical due to the girl's lack of physical presence…
One decisive day, the bearer of the UMA hat decided to pay a visit the Clinic with a few qualms concerning the news.
"Doctor!" Gray cried while hammering the door with a fist. "Doctor, let me see her!"
In the midst of his knocking, the door slowly creaked open, with the good doctor himself intercepting Gray's next few fists with an open palm.
"Good Morning, Gray." Doctor Trent greeted calmly.
"Is Claire still in there? Please let me see her!" Gray requested.
"Yes, she is. Unfortunately, she still isn't ready to be seen." answered Doctor Trent with a hint of regret.
"What?! Come on! Aren't the people closest to her supposed to be able to see her at will?"
"True… that is normally the case for Mineral Town regulations; however, she herself has insisted that she remain in isolation for the time being."
Gray started clenching his hands in frustration.
"What is it? Is it that bad? Is it contagious? If this is true, why can't she let anyone else near her? If she did something stupid to catch it… I swear she'll be hearing from me soon!" he yelled.
"Please…don't. The situation's enough of a concern as it as. We can't have you frightening her." Doctor Trent suggested.
Gray then loosened his hands and lowered his head shamefully.
"I'm sorry…" he uttered.
"Just please don't get riled up again. In all honesty, it's not as bad as the news that has spread, however, she really needs to be tended to in peace for now. I'm sorry… that's all I can saw for now." Doctor Trent explained.
"You better be telling the truth, Doctor. I don't want to have some serious news sprung up on me the following day." Gray stressed.
"I promise, it's nothing of that sort. As I've said, what she needs right now is some peace and rest. We're doing what we can for the most part, but this is something she can recover from on her own."
"Then she better be fine… soon," Gray growled. "I am seriously going to let her have it if she keeps this going for too long."
"I'm certain she'll be up and about in due time…" Doctor Trent promised.
Suddenly, the librarian with glasses rushed to Gray's side in grave concern.
"Doctor! Please! Will Claire be alright?" she asked between her breaths.
"Mary!" Doctor uttered in a heightened state of awareness. "Yes, she will. Please bear with me, though. As I've just finished explaining to your friend Gray, her affliction isn't as serious as the rumors around town have stated. However, she is currently in a state that requires momentary isolation. Please be patient; you should be able to see her soon enough."
"Thank you…" Mary answered softly.
"Hey, Mary. You were the last person to see Claire before she checked in, right? " Gray suddenly asked.
The bookish lady slowly turned her head to the aspiring blacksmith and gave a nod.
"Just maybe… do you think you might have seen any sign of her recent illness when you met her?"
Mary immediately recalled Claire's mysterious breakdown during their discussion of Gray. Part of her was compelled to give him that possible hint, but in the end, she withheld from now.
"I'm sorry… there was nothing. She was perfectly fine." Mary lied regretfully.
"I see... thank you, though."
"Sure..."
Mary then turned her head towards the Clinic entrance, trying to spy behind the Doctor.
"Claire… I'm not sure if I did the right thing just now, but… it made me anxious. I feel like Gray has a right to know, but then I feel like it would be tarnishing your privacy, somehow. Is that you want? To keep it a secret? Would you rather tell Gray yourself? I don't mind at all what it is you could be keeping from us. Especially if it's…THAT… if it's about Gray, I won't hate you. I'll never hate you for it… they're feelings. They just awaken on a whim, and you can't be completely blamed for it."
"I guess we better go, then." Gray sighed. "Mary, I don't think Claire will like it if we just stand out here wasting our time. If I finally understand her logic well enough, she'd likely want us to enjoy ourselves for now. Of course, I don't think we have to take it as far she'd want us to."
Mary looked up with an understanding smile. "That certainly sounds like her alright."
Afterwards, she faced Doctor Trent with a motherly concern. "Please continue to look out for her, Doctor."
"I shall. And thank you for your support." Doctor Trent replied.
All three people nodded to each other a respectful farewell before going about their daily business. After Doctor Trent closed the door, he calmly headed towards the upstairs to meet with his patient.
"I believe the message from your friends are quite clear, Claire. Please, get well soon." He said aloud.
Coming up next, Claire gets up refreshed and vitalized, ready to face a whole new world! And boy is it new! But while Claire is supposed to be the main character of the story, the spotlight is all on the Doc this time! Something's amiss. Has Gray fallen to the dark side to ensure Claire's safety? Does Mary have an awesome secret identity? And is there any reason at all it took this long for the author to introduce characters other than the focal ones by finally writing in Rick and Karen cameos? What does this mean for our debonair Doctor?! Find out next chapter! And make sure to rest and relax!