First to the guest who was wondering, yes those are real movies, I didn't go into detail, so I wouldn't be accused of copyright. I would highly recommend a few of his movies including: Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and Kiki's Delivery Service.
Chapter 17: Needles and Accusations
"Alright kid, time to get going." Kanan said.
"Do we have to?" Ezra asked.
"Yes," Kanan said pulling his shoes on, and tossing the kid his own.
Kanan heard the kid release a heavy sigh before hearing the scuffling of shoes being put on. Ten seconds later, Ezra was standing by him.
"Let's just get this over with." Ezra said like he was on death row.
"Kid, you're going to the doctor's, not the electric chair." Kanan joked.
"I told you, I just don't like doctors or needles." Ezra replied as they left the apartment.
Kanan didn't respond, not knowing how to. The two of them entered his car and he drove off towards the doctor's office.
The car was deadly silent, making it seem pretty awkward. Kanan turned on the radio right when a song was starting.
(I don't own this song, but I like it, you should listen to it. It's "Gone to Soon" by Simple Plan)
"Hey there now, where'd you go? You left me here, so unexpected. You changed my life, I hope you know, cause now I'm lost, so unprotected. In a blink of an eye, I never got to say goodbye. Like a shooting star, flyin' across the room. So fast so far, you were gone too soon. You're part of me, and I'll never be the same here without you. You were gone to soon."
Ezra swallowed the lump in this throat. The song reminded him of his parents. He never heard this song before, so he didn't know the words to it, to sing along. But even if he did know the words, he didn't know if he could sing because soon enough he had tears in his eyes that he was trying in vain to hide from Kanan.
The song continued, "You were always there; and like shining light, on my darkest days, you were there to guide me. Oh I miss you now, I wish you could see, just how much your memory, will always mean to me. In a blink of an eye, I never got to say goodbye. Like a shooting star, flyin' across the room. So fast so far, you were gone too soon. You're part of me, and I'll never be, the same here without you. You were gone too soon."
At the red light Kanan took a glance at the teenager beside him, and saw that Ezra had tears in his eyes.
"Shine on! Shine on! To a better place. Shine on! Shine on! Will never be the same."
Kanan was so focused on the tear filled teen that he didn't notice that the light turned green until the person behind him honked his horn.
The sad song continued, "Like a shooting star, flyin' across the room. So fast so far. You were gone too soon. You're part of me, and I'll never be the same here without you. You were gone too soon. Shine on! Shine on! You were gone too soon! Shine on! Shine on! You were gone too soon! Shine on! Shine on! You were gone too soon!"
There was another red light that Kanan stopped at, he turned to look at Ezra, and saw that his shoulders were shaking with silent sobs, and tears were streaming down his face. "You okay, kid?"
Ezra wiped at his face trying to get rid of the tears, but was failing miserably. Kanan reached into the back seat of the car grabbed the box of tissues and handed it to Ezra, which he took and started to wipe furiously at his face and eyes to them rid of tears.
"You don't have to hide your tears, Ezra." Kanan said as he started to drive as the green light directed. "You can cry if you need to."
Ezra let out a few small sobs. Before he managed to calm down and dry his face of the tears.
"Sorry," Ezra said.
"Kid, are you really apologizing for crying?" Kanan asked. "Everyone cries."
Ezra was silent for a moment before he admitted, "The song reminded me of my parents."
"If you don't mind my asking, what did happen to your parents?" Kanan asked.
"In fact, I do mind you asking." Ezra snapped. "I don't like talking about my parents."
"Okay," Kanan said and returned his full attention back onto the road, and it was only a few minutes until they reached the doctor's office.
Kanan got out of the car and waited for Ezra, who got out of the car reluctantly.
"Walking slowly just puts off the inevitable." Kanan said.
Ezra sighed in response and picked up his pace to catch up to Kanan.
"Ready?" Kanan asked right before they entered the door.
"No," Ezra said.
Kanan gave a reassuring smile before he led Ezra inside.
"Take a seat kid, I'll get you signed in." Kanan said.
Ezra did as Kanan asked.
"May I help you?" the receptionist asked after Kanan approached.
"Yes, my charge is here for his appointment." Kanan said.
"What's his name?" the receptionist asked.
"Ezra Bridger." Kanan provided.
"Alright, it should only be a few minutes. Please take a seat." the receptionist said.
"Thank you," Kanan responded before heading over to where Ezra was sitting.
"It will be a few minutes." Kanan informed him.
"Alright." Ezra said.
Kanan took a careful look at Ezra, he had his arms crossed over his chest. Almost like a defensive or comfort method.
"Hey," Kanan smiled, "It's going to be okay."
"What makes so sure?" Ezra said.
"I'm being optimistic." Kanan smiled even wider. "Do try to think more positive."
"Alright, I'm positive this is not going to be good," Ezra said, sinking lower into his seat.
"Oh, hardy har, har." Kanan sarcastically laughed.
"Ezra Bridger," a nurse called from the doorway to a long looking hallway.
Ezra and Kanan left their seats and headed over to the nurse.
"Sorry sir, you'll have to wait out here." the nurse said.
"I can't go back there with him?" Kanan asked.
"Once the patient is over thirteen we ask that their guardian waits outside." the nurse explained.
"It'll be okay kid." Kanan reassured Ezra, setting a hand on his shoulder, before returning to his chair.
Ezra followed the nurse down a long hallway until they reached a room.
"Please take your shoes off and step on the scale." the nurse said.
Ezra did as she asked.
"5 foot 4 inches, and," the nurse started, but frowned when she couldn't find his weight right away. "98 pounds." She gave Ezra a scrutinizing look, "How old are you?"
"I'll be 15 on October 6th." Ezra replied.
"Well, you are a little short, and severally underweight for a boy your age." the nurse said, more to herself as she wrote it down on a clipboard. Ezra didn't bother to point out that he knew this.
"Take a seat on the table please." the nurse said.
Ezra did as she asked. "I still don't know you name."
"I'm Nurse Nathalie." the nurse introduced. "Now I need you check your throat, say 'ahh' please."
"Ahhhh," Ezra said as Nathalie looked in the back of his mouth.
"Okay," Nathalie said. "Now I'm going to check your ears."
She stuck a weird flashlight type object in both of his ears, one after the other.
"Please wait one moment while I get Dr. Devin." Nathalie said.
"Okay." Ezra said.
Nathalie left the room. Ezra would normally use this chance to escape, but he knew he would get in trouble with Kanan if he tried so.
A minute later, Nathalie came in with who Ezra supposed was the doctor.
"Hello Ezra." Dr. Devin said.
"Hey," Ezra responded.
"How are you feeling today?" Dr. Devin asked. He was holding the clipboard that Nathalie had before.
"Physically or mentally?" Ezra asked.
"Oh, a sense of humor." Dr. Devin laughed. "I need you to take off your shirt now."
Ezra did as he asked, only to receive a gasp of surprised shock from Nathalie and Dr. Devin.
"Get his guardian in here now!" Dr. Devin said, he sounded rather mad.
Ezra looked in the nearby mirror, he could see why the medical experts gasped. He could clearly see his ribs, and he had bruises all over his torso. He quickly realized that he received these during his last run-in with the Imperials.
An upset Nathalie returned shortly with a confused Kanan.
"Is something wrong doctor?" Kanan asked.
"I was hoping you could explain something to me." Dr. Devin said.
Kanan gave Ezra a quick glance, taking in his bruises that he had yet to see.
Then it hit Ezra like a truck. Dr. Devin thought Kanan did this to him.
"Which is?" Kanan asked. Ezra could tell that Kanan was beginning to work out what the doctor was thinking.
"Why is your son severally undernourished, and why does he have all these bruises?" Dr. Devin asked.
"Now, I can explain." Kanan said.
"Explain to the head of police, she's on the line." Nathalie said, she handed the phone to Dr. Devin.
"Now come on, there's no need for this." Kanan objected.
Ezra seriously began to wonder if this doctor was stupid. Kanan only had him for a few days, and he didn't do this to him. Kanan was also a police officers, so they were calling Fulcrum on the guy she gave me to.
"Hello, ma'am. I need to inform you of a child abuse case." Dr. Devin said. "The child in question name is Ezra Bridger." He paused, "The father's name?" He looked to Kanan for an answer.
"Kanan Jarrus." Kanan provided.
"Kanan Jarrus," Dr. Devin repeated. "Type of abuse? Well the child was obviously undernourished from what I suspect multiple years of neglect, and he has many bruises on his chest and back from what seems to be a beating."
Ezra rolled his eyes.
"What do you mean this is nothing to worry about!" Dr. Devin yelled in outrage.
"What I was going to inform you sir, is that Ezra is my foster son. I just received him a few days ago. The undernourishment is from about eight years of living on the streets, and he received the bruises from a run in with the mob." Kanan informed.
"He's actually the cop that saved me from the Imps." Ezra added.
Dr. Devin had the story confirmed with Fulcrum on the other side of the line, he seemed to pale slightly realizing how foolish he had been as she confirmed. "Sorry for wasting your time ma'am."
He hung up the phone and cleared his throat.
"Sorry about that." Dr. Devin apologized.
"It's fine. But next time you accuse someone of child abuse, get your facts straight first." Kanan said.
"Can we continue please?" Ezra said.
"Alright," Dr. Devin said. "Please feel free to stay if you and Ezra wish, Mr. Jarrus."
"Please Kanan." Ezra begged.
"Alright." Kanan said, taking the spare seat.
"I'm going to listen to your breathing and heart beat now." Dr. Devin said, holding out his stethoscope.
"Alright," Ezra said, flinching slightly at the cold metal.
"Take a deep breath in," Dr. Devin instructed. Ezra did so. "Now let it out slowly." Ezra did as the doctor ordered. "Okay your breathing and heart sound fine. You can put your shirt back on now." Ezra gladly did so.
He put away his stethoscope and brought out a small hammer to test Ezra's leg reflexes.
"Okay, so Ezra, when was the last time you had any vaccinations?" Dr. Devin asked.
"Um, I don't think I'd any since I was four or something." Ezra supplied.
"Alright, do you have any allergies?" Dr. Devin asked.
"Seafood." Ezra responded.
"Anaphylactic?" Dr. Devin asked.
"Um," Ezra didn't know what that meant.
"Does your throat swell or mouth swell, or do you get hives?" Dr. Devin explained.
"Oh, yeah, they swell then I have trouble breathing." Ezra answered.
"Okay I'll give you some epinephrine auto-injectors at the end of this visit." Dr. Devin said.
"Some what now?" Ezra asked.
"Epi-pens." Nathalie translated.
"Oh." Ezra said.
Dr. Devin went over to the cabinet and pulled out five shots vials, and started to prepare the medicine in them.
Kanan could tell that Ezra was really nervous. He went over to stand next to him and took his left hand. "Hey, it will be fine." He started rubbing soothing circles on the top of his charge's hand. Ezra barely noticed the first pinch of the doctor giving him his first shot in his right arm.
"Hey, I know we went yesterday, but how bout for supper we go to The Asteroid Belt." Kanan said as he saw the doctor preparing to give the next shot.
"Yeah, as long as that waitress doesn't bother us again." Ezra agreed, not noticing the shot being given.
"Maybe even Hera could join us." Kanan smiled, distracting Ezra from the third shot.
"You spend way too much time with your girlfriend." Ezra replied.
"Who are you to judge?" Kanan joked as the fourth shot went across with no trouble.
Ezra didn't respond, which left his full attention on the last shot. After the shot was done he whipped his arm away. "Ow, I don't think I can handle four more of those."
"Ezra," Kanan laughed. "That was the last one."
"What?" Ezra asked in unbelief.
Ezra looked over to see that there were already four band-aids on his arm and Dr. Devin was trying to put on a fifth.
"I didn't even notice." Ezra said, handing over his arm to the doctor.
Kanan smiled.
Dr. Devin went over to a different cabinet and searched for a moment before walking back over and handing Kanan three epi-pens.
"Now, even if he gets the epi-pens, he still needs to go to the hospital whenever he has an anaphylactic reaction. And here is a pamphlet about how to administrate it and other stuff you need to know." Dr. Devin said.
"Thank you," Kanan said.
"Try to get some more meat on those bones kid." Dr. Devin said.
"Well I am getting regular meals now." Ezra smiled hopping of the table.
"You have a nice day now." Nathalie said.
"Thanks, you too." Kanan said.
"Yeah, thanks." Ezra said.
The two were lead back down the hallway to the waiting area, where Kanan paid for the appointment.
"Alright, let's head home now." Kanan said.
"Yeah home." Ezra said with a smile, still loving the word.
Sorry about the wait, but I lost my muse for a while there, but I hope the length makes up for it. PS I start working 40 hours a week on July 6th for 6 weeks, then I have college (working 15 hours a week on top of classes and homework so updates may be slower but I will still hopefully be able to update regularly,) any way I hope you enjoyed it.)