Back Up Plans
Chapter 4: Behold, Your Little Ones
"Puppies."
"Yes, according to Doctor Duran they've proven very effective in boosting a child's self-esteem," the nurse explains to a dubious Zuko.
When Iroh and Zuko arrived at the hospital, Iroh greeted the hospital chief as an old friend. The men spent only a few moments kindling their friendship before the chief had to return to his duties. Before he left, he directed them to a specialist accepting volunteers. Zuko had expected something more along the lines of donating blood. Instead, he watches Iroh laugh as a juvenile bulldog begins licking his face excitedly.
"It will be fun," Iroh insists. "Surely, even you can't say no to this face."
He holds the wrinkle-faced pup up to Zuko. She barks a happily until Zuko finds himself unable to keep the corners of his mouth from twisting into a reluctant smile.
"Fine," he retorts as he reaches for the dog, "but if it pisses on me I will hold you personally responsible, Uncle."
"These dogs are well trained for their age," the nurse interjects. "You shouldn't have any problems while you visit the children as long as you stay within the recommended hour."
"See Zuko? Everything is working in our favor."
"Yeah, and if we have any problems, we know who to find. " A dark, accusatory glare is directed at the nurse.
Shrinking under Zuko's intimidating gaze the man instructs the pair on how to reach the pediatric ward. "Follow this hallway through the Recovery Wing and you'll come to a set of glass doors. The Pediatric Wing is just through there."
"Thank you very much," Iroh says as they depart with their furry companions. When Lee is out of earshot he addresses his nephew. "You should save that gloomy scowl for special occasions Zuko. It will lose its effectiveness if it is your permanent expression."
Zuko rolls his eyes. He'd been doing that a lot lately. "It's not gloomy. It's…foreboding," he decides. "And I hate to break it to you, Uncle, but your Hippie ideals aren't what make the world go round."
Iroh sighs at his short-sighted nephew Iroh. "You would be surprised what makes this world go round my taciturn nephew. Believe it or not, making friends and meeting new people is more beneficial than you give it credit for. You will discover opportunities available to you only through the cultivation of friendships both professional and personal.""
They arrive at the prescribed wing and Zuko motions down a hallway. "I think I'll take my furball this way. What exactly am I supposed to do with these kids?" Iroh turns down a hallway as he answers.
"Just follow your instincts, Zuko. If that doesn't work then just do what the dog does." Zuko looks after him with utter disbelief. Do what the dog does. What kind of idiot advice is that? Unfortunately, Iroh has disappeared and Zuko is not about to risk ridicule by asking a nurse what to do with his 'therapy puppy.' Still feeling foolish, he walks down the opposite hallway aware that his Uncle is secretly watching him.
He walks several feet but only sees closed doorways around him. "If we don't find the ankle biters soon-"
An attractive blond doctor nearly crashes into him as he takes the hall corner. "Excuse me," he says taking an awkward jump to avoid her.
"I'm sorry!" says the woman, clearly embarrassed. "I always mean to take these corners more carefully. You're a cute one…" Zuko curses as his cheeks grow warm, but he quickly realizes she's talking to his furry companion.
"So can I take this, uh, therapy puppy into any room?" The words 'therapy puppy' sound even more ridiculous coming out of his mouth. He wonders if that nurse had been playing a joke on him.
The woman looks up from the animal and smiles politely. "This isn't my usual unit, so I'm not sure if you can take it into the private rooms, but we do have a playroom. I'm sure the children there would love to meet you and your friend," she smiles warmly. "It's that room right there," she indicates a set of double doors to his right.
"Thanks." So far no mocking him for the 'therapy puppy' comment, but that might just be good manners.
As he heads toward the playroom the doctor offers one more piece of advice. "You'll want to set the dog on the ground before you go in, or the heathens will swarm."
"Oh, uh, okay," he says clearly confused.
Zuko's not sure what he'd expected as he walks through the doors leading into the playroom, but this is definitely not it. Every part of the hospital was a collection of nondescript pictures, colors and carpets, but in here it couldn't have been more different. Neon bulletin boards and crayon artwork plaster the walls. More surprising than the colorful room however, is the children who are scattered around the room. Each one looks different, of course, but they're the same in one important regard: the scars. He'd been expecting the terminally ill, but even the one with an IV has the same scarlet colored scars that mark them all as burn victims.
First one, then another pause to notice Zuko and he gets a more clear view of their injuries. One girl's arm appears mangled and unusable while another boy looks like he'll never have hair again. Surprise fills him, but he doesn't feel shock or revulsion the way many others would. These scares are too familiar. His hand automatically finds its way up to the scar that disfigured his own face nine years ago.
"Puppyyy!" A little voice interrupts his thoughts. The children all rush forward and quickly surrounding Zuko in a bustling flurry.
"Wait-" he commands uselessly. "Everyone will get a turn. Just-ow my foot!" The dog, just as eager to play, squirms around and tugs at his leash while Zuko attempts to control the situation. Finally, someone comes to his aid with a loud whistle. All but one of the seven children immediately run to sit cross legged atop a carpet with a detailed picture of a town on it.
"I want to play with the puppy!" a little boy shouts from somewhere below Zuko's waist. He glances down to discover the little boy with the burns across his scalp petting the haunches of his dog.
"Carter, you heard the whistle. If you want to play with the puppy you need to go sit on the rug." After another moment the boy walks dejectedly back toward the rug where another boy motions to the space next to him.
"Sorry about that," a middle aged woman says addressing Zuko. "My name is Linda."
"Zuko," he replies as he sets the puppy down now comprehending the doctor's advice from earlier. The animal immediately runs to edge of the leash and tugs at Zuko's grip.
"Welcome to the pediatric burn unit," Linda says as the pair walk over to the group of children waiting obediently on the rug. "Are you with Dr. Duran's study?"
If he wanted out then now was his opportunity to say something; anything that would excuse him from the situation. But inexplicably an affirmative 'yes' finds its way out of his mouth. Linda smiles and turns to the group of children.
"Alright, who wants to play some games?" she asks.
The children all begin shouting eagerly once more. " First let's have our friends introduce themselves," Linda motions for Zuko to sit with the circle of children.
"You want me to- uh, okay." He turns to face the children as he joins them. Staring into the faces of seven young kids he realizes that he hasn't interacted with anyone under the age of eighteen for several years. "Uh, hi. My name is Zuko," he clears his throat awkwardly. "This is-"
"What happened to your face?" The boy from before asks.
Zuko glances over to Linda, but she doesn't appear to be bothered by the blunt question. Questions like these were probably commonplace in this playroom. Inwardly shrugging he replies. "I got a burn."
"How?" the little girl on his left asks. He glances down at her. She's the one with the burned arm.
"I was in a car accident a long time ago. This is my souvenir," he says pointing to the scar that covers most of his left eye and temple. "How'd you get yours?"
She looks down at her mangled arm sadly. "Mommy says it was an accident."
Great pity fills Zuko as he watches the girl stroke her broken arm. She is after all an unexpected shadow of his own past.
"I'm sorry," he says sincerely. "It's a good thing you've got such a beautiful smile, though. And look who else likes it." The puppy in Zuko's lap crawls forward until he's close enough to energetically lick the little girl's leg. She giggles the squishes the puppies face between her chubby hands. "Alright Linda, let's play some games," Zuko says.
For the next forty-five minutes the eight burn victims, new and old, play every game they can think of. As Zuko plays along with the kids, teaming up with the slower paced children and stumbling over others, he fails to notice the unusual expression on his face. An expression that most people wouldn't have the courage to point out as happiness.
After everyone has managed to plant a sloppy kiss on each other's' scars during The Kissing Game, the group decides to play Hide-and-Go-Seek one more time. However, after a few moments Zuko comes stumbling out of his hiding spot with a urinating dog. He has to bite back an expletive when the 'well-trained' puppy pees all over his shoes. The image draws riotous laughter from the children.
"Potty Zuko! Potty Zuko!" They take up chanting as he stands there teetering between anger and helpless laughter.
"That's enough," Linda intervenes once again. "Sorry, Zuko but I'm afraid this has to be the end of our play date. Not all of the children can be exposed to acidic liquids like- dog urine." She attempts to stifle her laughter but Zuko is no fool. His good cheek burns slightly.
"Don't go Zuko!" Carter, the boy with the burned scalp, shouts. The rest of the children immediately join his cry and descend into chaotic dissenting as he attempts to calm them down.
"Sorry guys, but I don't want to get dog germs all over you," he explains.
"Can I get you some scrubs to change into before you go?" Linda offers eyeing some stray patches of wet on his pant legs.
"Yeah that would be great," he agrees and glances down when he feels a tug on his pant leg; it's Celia, the girl with the burned arm.
"Mr. Zuko. Will you come back and play with us again?" she asks in a pixie-like voice.
As he stares down at her round face and hopeful brown eyes he knows he only has one option. He squats down to her height as he reassures her. "How could I stay away from my new best friends?"
Her face breaks into an exultant smile. "Pinky promise?"
All the responsibilities on Zuko's shoulders swirl in his mind as he looks at her extended little finger: his internship and another year of law school to name a few. But he knows he won't be able to stay away. Throwing caution to the wind he intertwines his large finger with hers. "I promise."