It was almost quarter past nine when Killian finally heard his name. He turned to see a short, slender man standing near the interior door, holding a folder.
"Killian Jones?" the man repeated.
Killian took a step towards him. "Aye."
"Step right up; right this way; let's get this show on the road," was the enthusiastic reply. Wilbur grinned behind the desk and waved at his coworker. Emma rubbed Killian's back briefly and said,
"I'll be just out here. Good luck." She started back toward a chair.
Killian half-turned back and held out his hand, gripped with a sudden reluctance to go forward alone. "Come with me, love."
She looked surprised. "Really?"
"Aye. You can keep me company. And explain all the strange devices they intend to use." He beckoned her forward, and she gladly joined him. Hand in hand, they approached the man with the folder, who gave a businesslike smile and wave.
"My name is Milton. You can call me Milton. You must be Killian. And you are…"
"Emma," she replied.
"Pleased to meetcha. Now if you would follow me, please."
Milton whirled and pushed the door open, holding it for the pair as they stepped through. His dark, slicked-back hair was about the same length as Killian's. In his earlobes were decorative gadgets that Killian had seen before in his travels, which stretched the skin way beyond its natural shape. They swayed gently each time he moved his head. He spoke with a vaguely familiar accent; perhaps related to those Killian had met in his two journeys to the city of New York?
Milton let them past two closed doors and into a small alcove along the wall that was furnished with two chairs, some sort of platform, and a white, boxy device similar to the computer box in the sheriff's station.
"So, how ya been?" Milton asked conversationally as he pulled a curtain around behind them.
"Fine, thank you. And yourself?"
"Good, good. We're just here to get your vital signs before the doc sees you. So if you'll kindly remove your jacket, boots, and… um…" He eyed the hook somewhat nervously. "Hook?"
Killian complied, handing the hook to Emma for safekeeping before shedding the jacket onto a chair and kicking off his boots.
"And… up on the scale for me."
Killian gave Emma a meaningful glance before stepping onto the platform as indicated. A number came up on the screen before him, which Milton scribbled into the folder. Having not yet gotten accustomed to the realm's system of measurements and conversion factors, the weight number meant nothing to Killian.
"Please, take a seat," Milton said politely, and Killian obeyed. Emma had already settled herself into a chair with his jacket on her lap. "This goes under your tongue," Milton explained as he approached with a small strip of what looked like shiny paper. Killian looked at it dubiously. "It measures your temperature. Open."
Killian opened his mouth and lifted his tongue, and Milton slid the paper in place. "Close."
With his lips holding the paper steady, Killian couldn't ask how on earth that particular invention worked. In the meantime, Milton was setting up the white box. He pulled out a piece of cloth, which was attached to the box via a curly, stretchy cord.
"That's for measuring blood pressure," Emma told him, and he nodded in recognition. That was one thing he did remember from that damn hospital. It would momentarily squeeze his arm, but cause no lasting damage.
Milton glanced between Killian's two arms, predictably going for his right one in the end. Emma helped roll Killian's sleeve past his elbow, and Milton wrapped the cuff around his upper arm. When he pushed a button, the machine started groaning, and the cuff began to tighten. Killian watched his fingers curl slightly of their own accord. What strange physiological response was this?
It kept squeezing his arm harder and harder until Killian began to wonder if these machines were ever known to malfunction. Was there a failsafe if it just kept going to infinity? Would they have to use his hook to tear it off before he lost the use of his good arm? Fortunately, when it reached what must have been a predetermined point, the machine paused, and then the hiss of air told of the slow release of pressure in the cuff. Milton chose that instant to go for the end of the paper strip that still protruded from Killian's mouth.
"Normal temperature," Milton declared as he recorded the results in the folder and discarded the paper. Killian could now see his own name printed on the folder's cover. Glancing at the machine, Milton continued, "Normal blood pressure… and… pulse. Isn't that just great?" Having finished recording all of the numbers, he removed the cuff and then took a breath. "Fabulous. And we're following again, please. Exam room… 6. Right this way."
Killian slipped his feet back into his boots and stood, Emma beside him, still holding his jacket and hook. Milton pulled back the curtain and took a left turn, a right at the end of the hallway, and right again through an open door labeled "Exam Room 6."
"Here we are," he announced. "Come in and make yourself at home."
Immediately to the right of the door were two chairs. Along the right hand wall was a tall, paper-covered table with an adjustable light overhead. On the far wall was another door, a sink, drawers, and cabinets. To their left stood a computer box on wheels, with a wheeled stool beside it.
Milton clicked his tongue in disapproval as the three of them entered the room. "We are clearly not on the ball this morning. Jeez. I apologize. Just give me one second…"
Killian closed the door behind him, while Emma made herself comfortable on one of the chairs and Milton scurried to a lower drawer across the room. Humming tunelessly, he retrieved a pile of fabric, then opened the drawer above the first to remove a small plastic cup. The fabric he tossed onto the table as he stood. Grabbing a pen from a container beside the sink, he began writing something on the label stuck to the cup.
Having had no instructions otherwise, Killian made to go sit next to Emma and wait, rather than continue to hover awkwardly by the door. But he had just started to sit down when Milton held the cup out toward him. Killian straightened and stepped forward to accept the offering.
"Urine sample, please," Milton explained. "Restrooms are at the end of the hallway to your left."
He turned back to the cabinets, and Killian glanced at Emma, bemused. She nodded.
"Yep, you heard right. Go pee in the cup."
"There should be a tray in there by the sink that you can leave the sample on," Milton added without turning around. Emma held out his hook.
"Need this?"
He moved forward and held out his brace, allowing her to reattach the hook. "Thanks love."
"Remember to wash it when you're done," she teased. "And be careful down there."
He winked. "Always."
He could have sworn he heard Milton make a noise of disgust as he left the room in search of the restroom.
In the end, Killian was able to provide the requested sample without making too much of a mess, although the cup wasn't full. But judging by the two other samples on the tray, it didn't appear necessary to fill it. He still couldn't fathom what they would be able to glean from that particular substance. What a peculiar realm.
He carefully situated his cup between his left forearm and chest, then screwed the lid on as best he could. Placing the cup with the others, he washed and dried his hand and hook, then returned to Exam Room 6.
Milton was just leaving through the other door as Killian entered. He stopped and looked back, saying,
"Very nice. Now, get changed, and Leo… I mean, Dr. Taymor will be in shortly." He pointed at the fabric lying on the table. "Everything off but your socks."
With that, he shut the door behind him.
"What do you suppose 'shortly' means, Swan?" Killian asked as he began to strip. "Will they take into account that I may need a bit more time for that than average?"
"Relax, they always make you freeze in here for awhile before coming in. And you have an assistant." She stood to help him with the buttons on his shirt. "Besides, he's going to see you naked anyway."
"Aye, love. I just thought he might want to… ease into it." He unscrewed his hook before wrestling out of his shirtsleeves. She saw the slight hesitation before he began unbuckling his brace. She patted his bare shoulder before moving to help.
They had that bit down to a science by now, so it didn't take long before they could slip off the brace and liberate his stump. Emma carefully arranged the brace on the extra chair before heading to the exam table to retrieve the gown. When she returned to his side, he was just stepping out of his jeans. She unfolded the fabric and held it open so he could slip his arms through the sleeves. He eyed it distastefully.
"Bloody hell, Swan, I think I'd prefer to remain nude."
"Doesn't do much for the ego, huh?"
He slipped into the gown and she went around behind him to tie it closed. "I look bloody ridiculous. At least that damn hospital gave me a robe to go over the rags they put me in."
"Don't worry, Pirate; you're still just as devilishly handsome." She finished the last tie and straightened. He twisted around with his best "smoulder" face.
"Is that a fact?"
"Aye," she retorted. He grinned, and she stepped closer to kiss him. He eagerly reciprocated until she finally pushed him back with a hand on his chest. She looked him up and down before grinning. "It's really not a bad look on you."
He scoffed. Then she continued,
"I think they want your underwear off, too."
"No need to make excuses, love," he taunted. She rolled her eyes, but couldn't stop her smile. She'd walked right into that one. Killian very slowly reached down and made a deliberate show of removing his underwear.
"I can't believe your mind would still go there, even in a doctor's office."
"Alas, I am only human."
Emma bent to pick up all of his discarded clothing and piled it with the rest of his belongings on the chair. When she looked back, he was watching her, looking forlorn and a little bit lost. Her heart fluttered at the sight. He was sure cute sometimes. She returned to his side and took his hand.
"Sorry if I burst your bubble. But I don't think you'd want to be doing anything when the doctor comes in."
She guided him to the exam table and patted the edge. "He'll want you up here, so you might as well get situated."
"Aye, love." He hopped up and scooted back with a rustle of paper, bare legs dangling off the edge. Emma stroked his knee and then unfolded the paper drape to lay it over his legs. That brought back the teasing indignation.
"What the bloody hell is this? What an impractical excuse for a blanket."
"I think it's more for privacy than warmth." She smiled until she saw him marginally relax. "Speaking of privacy, are you sure you want me to be in here? I could go back to the waiting room once the doctor comes in."
"No, love, stay. I'd like you to stay."
She smiled and nodded. "Okay. But if at any point you start to feel uncomfortable, just let me know. I can close my eyes, or leave. I won't be offended."
He looked into her eyes lovingly. "Don't be ridiculous. My Swan. I'd be more inclined to ask the bloody physician to leave."
"That's not gonna happen."
He smirked. But she could see his foot jiggling slightly, and he rubbed absently at the scars on his stump. Stroking a comforting hand along his arm, she decided she would stay next to him until Dr. Taymor came in.
Killian's eyes roamed the room before settling on a tray near the sink, laden with paper-and-plastic-wrapped packages, empty vials, and something like a toothpaste tube. Milton must have set it up while Killian was out of the room. Emma interrupted his musing, and he returned his gaze to her face.
"What would you like for lunch? I know you're already starving. I've always wanted to take you to get sushi. I think you'd like it."
He tilted his head slightly, as if searching for a memory. "Someone once mentioned 'sushi' to me. I think it may have been Ariel. Although I seem to recall her being less than enthusiastic about it."
"Well, it is seafood. She's probably worried about people eating her friends."
He shrugged. "Not likely she has friends in this realm. I'd be happy to try this 'sushi' with you, if you can spare the time."
She thought about it for a second. "You know, you're probably right. We may have to leave town to find it, and I'm not sure about using magic to go that far. So… rain check on the sushi?"
He nodded in assent. Suddenly, he gasped. "I forgot my list!"
"What list?"
"My list of discussion topics for the physician."
Emma was astonished. "You made a list?" She didn't know he'd been preparing so diligently. "What kind of topics?"
"You know. All those ridiculous words from the television box. I'm not sure how one is to keep track of all of the things the voices recommend asking the doctor about."
She looked at him blankly, so he continued.
"You know the ones… I had written them down to aid my memory. Bloody difficult words, they are. Prilosec OTP? Mydoll? Niagara?"
Emma caught on and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Killian, you… those are…"
She stammered to a halt. She really had thought his understanding of this world was improving. She was about to gently explain that you only needed to ask a doctor about certain drugs if you were suffering the symptoms they treated… when there was a flicker behind this look of earnest confusion. A sparkle of amusement. Emma groaned, and his grin broke free.
"Man, you had me going there for a minute! I didn't think you were that gullible! There I was, trying to think of a way to explain it without making you feel stupid!"
He laughed. "It was the perfect opportunity for some fun at my own expense."
"You do watch too much TV," she confirmed with a chuckle. "Niagara. Trust me, you're the last person in the world who needs a prescription for 'Niagara.'"
His smirk was back. "Oh aye? Are my appetites overwhelming you, love? Perhaps there exists a concoction with the opposite effect."
The question was asked in his usual bantering tone, but she could see the genuine concern in his eyes. She knew that he would scale it back if she only said the word. But she only gave a challenging grin in return. "Never."
They heard a child begin wailing elsewhere in the building. Killian's eyes flicked in the direction of the sound. "Someone isn't happy."
"Kids tend to hate doctors. Actually, not many adults are that fond of them, either."
"Let's hope I don't end the encounter making that sound, eh love?"
Before Emma could reply, there was a knock on the door. A heartbeat later, it opened to admit a large, muscular man in a white coat. His shoulder-length, wavy brown hair framed his face, which was round with a broad nose and expressive brown eyes. Killian recognized him from the plaque, though he was somehow more… intimidating in person, despite his polite smile.