Author's Note: I still blame napoleonicpowerqueen for this. She asked for this and my muse, being the amazing beast that she is, agreed immediately because it's cruel and painful and such a fun prompt.
Disclaimer: I own nothing recognizable.
Helen sits in the Sanctuary's infirmary, her eyes flicking between the monitors she's got Janet Fraiser hooked up to and the file spread open on the desk before her. She watches the small woman's heart rate - noting the gradual increase that signals a slow rise to consciousness - and turns back to the file she's reading for the thousandth time. At this point she's pretty sure she's got the impressive file memorized.
"She's still asleep?" Will asks from the door and Helen nods, laying her pen down as she leans back in the chair.
"I kept her sedated for a day longer than needed to allow her body to heal from both the gunshot and the physical aspects of her grief," she explains. Will sinks into the chair across from Helen and runs his hand across his face.
"I can't imagine what she's been going through to let herself go so far," he says quietly. "It's not uncommon to forget self-care during grief but she really took it to an extreme."
"She'll be very much in need of your expertise," Helen replies, her fingers tracing the edge of the file. "She lost a significant amount of weight - pounds she couldn't afford to lose to begin with - and spent so much time in bed that she has a severe vitamin D deficiency. Her superior officer at Cheyenne Mountain expressed his concern for her well being and I assured him that we'll help her."
"Like I said, I can't imagine what she's gone through with the grief of losing her wife." Will winces, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I'll do my best to help her but I think you're going to be the most successful in helping her, Magnus. She'll need to heal physically before I can get into the heavy lifting of helping her heal psychologically."
"She's awake." Bigfoot sticks his head in, cutting off what Helen's about to say. Grabbing Janet's file and tucking it under her arm, Helen stands and leaves the infirmary's office. Janet Fraiser is in a private room close to the office and when Helen enters, she's pleased to see the small woman is sitting up in the bed, pillows piled behind her back to keep her upright. The gown she's wearing washes out her coloring so Janet looks pale but she looks infinitely better than she did twenty four hours ago despite the bandages visible and the sling her arm is held immobile in.
"I'm glad you're awake," Helen says softly, moving to Janet's bedside with a gentle smile. She checks the monitors and fusses with the morphine drip - gunshot wounds hurt and she doesn't want her patient in pain - before turning her focus on Janet, her smile turning sheepish. "I must apologize for shooting you."
"I told you to take the shot," Janet says, her voice gruff from disuse. "The man in the alley?"
"Secured," Helen replies. "Fortunately for him, his wound wasn't severe and he'll be healed in no time." She doesn't mention that this particular man has an impressively quick healing time thanks to his abnormal genes. "Once he's healed, he'll face the music, so to speak, for his crime at the diner." Helen pulls a stool up to Janet's bedside and takes a seat, watching the other woman take in the information. "Can you tell me what happened?"
"He walked in and shot the waitress with no provocation," Janet says, her voice quiet and pensive. "I'd been there for a few hours, taking a break from driving, and he came in and shot her point blank." Janet blinks a few times, her brow furrowing as she stops to look around for the first time. "Where am I?"
"You're at the Sanctuary," Helen replies. "It's a private medical facility on the outskirts of the Old City."
"You're a doctor?"
"I am," Helen smiles. "I'm Doctor Helen Magnus and this," she motions to where Will's been standing in the doorway, "- is Doctor William Zimmerman."
"Well this is fun," Janet says and Helen's pleasantly surprised to hear a trace of humor in her voice. "I'm a doctor too."
"You're well known at the Sanctuary, Doctor Fraiser." Helen tilts her head and laughs softly, amused. "I've followed your work for a very long time."
Janet stares at her for a long moment and just when Helen's ready to clear her throat and break the awkward silence, the small woman speaks.
"Twenty years of dull postings for the United States Air Force hardly qualify someone to be well-known," she says and Helen grins.
"That's very true," she agrees before leaning in and whispering conspiratorially, "but we both know your service record is full of everything but dull postings."
"How -"
"I'll explain everything once you've rested and recovered from your injury," Helen says, holding up a hand to cut Janet off. "I'll be back in an hour or so to check your healing and if it's to my liking, I'll give you a tour of the Sanctuary."
"It's a lot to take in," Will finally speaks from his place at the door and Helen smiles at his words. "But it's worth every moment. Just remember to ask all the questions you have."
Janet looks between Will and Helen before slumping back against the pillows with a resigned sigh. "I'm not sure how you know anything about my work but I'm interested to hear the story." She yawns and Helen stands, lightly resting her hand on Janet's good shoulder.
"Rest well, Doctor Fraiser, and I'll be back soon. If you need anything, my friend will let me know," she says and Bigfoot steps up behind Will. Janet's eyebrows shoot up at the sight of the simian-like man but she says nothing and Helen silently celebrates the fact that she seems to have been right about Janet Fraiser's open acceptance of the unusual.
"Will do." Janet lets her head lie back and she closes her eyes, which Helen takes as her cue to leave. Will follows her back to the infirmary's office and watches as she settles herself at the desk again. They talk about Janet's file and Helen's surprised to find that an hour passes quickly.
"I have to check her healing," she says. "But I'm certain she's doing well so I'll give her the tour and end in your office. I'm sure she'll have a lot to talk about."
"I'll be there. Don't break her," he teases. "She's valuable."
"Cheeky monkey," Helen replies, laughing as she shakes her head and heads for the door. "We'll see you soon."