A/N: Hi all! SO sorry for the wait :l I have finally come to the reluctant conclusion that updating once a week is not really feasible while I am in school. :( I will continue to update, but the updates will probably continue to be sporadic for a while. Sorry y'all! Hope you enjoy the chapter though. Cheers!
Doctor Dubois looked at the young man in front of him and sighed. His patient's expression was something between defiant and that of a naughty schoolboy caught in the act of some misdeed. Elena, who was standing behind Gleb, looked a little anxious.
"Monsieur Vaganov, you must be more careful," the doctor said in a resigned voice. "That foot of yours will never heal if you do not rest it. You could be permanently maimed or…"
"I understand," Gleb said coolly.
Dubois spread his hands in a gesture of defeat.
"If you understand, monsieur, then it would be better if you would follow my orders. When I tell you that you must rest and keep the movement of your foot to a minimum, I mean what I say. Your noncompliance in this matter has set back your healing process significantly. The swelling has not gone down to the degree that it should have by this time. Because of this…"
"Excusez-moi, Docteur Dubois," Elena cut in, "may I make a suggestion?"
"But of course, ma chérie," Dubois replied with a smile. He had been doctoring the Dassin family since Henri was born.
"I suggest that you give him crutches. Now I understand what you are saying," she held up her hands to stop the objections that immediately sprang to the doctor's lips. "I know that it would be ideal if he remained quiet a while longer, but as someone who sees this man nearly every day, I can assure you that if he is not allowed some freedom of movement he will go crazy and damage either himself or something else and I am not prepared to deal with that."
Gleb looked up at Elena with a grin that faded as he considered what she had said.
"Probably true," he acceded.
Doctor Dubois voiced the concern that was foremost in his thoughts.
"But Mademoiselle Elena, the moment that I give him crutches he will be flying around doing all manner of ridiculous things. I mean you no offense, monsieur," he turned apologetically to Gleb, "but I have seen it happen before and I do not that want to be the case for you. Your injury is one of the worst ankle fractures I have seen in a long time. If it is disturbed, there could be serious consequences."
"What if I was to make sure that he behaved responsibly?" Elena persisted.
The doctor frowned thoughtfully, stroking his short whiskers. He cocked an eye at Gleb and then at Elena.
"Would he listen to you?" he said bluntly.
A glance passed between Elena and Gleb. Obviously there was something of a history here, Dubois thought to himself. When Elena looked back at the doctor her expression appeared stern, but her eyes twinkled.
"Yes, he would. And if he doesn't, I will paddle him with my wooden spoon until he does."
Gleb twisted around so he could see her.
"Elena," he protested laughing. She dropped the façade of severity and laughed with him.
"Well, how else am I supposed to control a big strong man like you," she countered. "The spoon works well enough on my siblings, why not you?"
"You whack your siblings with a spoon?"
"Not always! It depends on how annoyed I am."
Gleb turned back to the doctor, a mock terrified expression on his face.
"Save me from this monster!" he groaned.
Dubois laughed and reached out to pat his shoulder.
"Very well, if Elena will chaperone you, then I will give you crutches."
"Chaperone?" Gleb raised an eyebrow and looked back at Elena who rolled her eyes.
"You're lucky I've gotten you as much leeway as I have," she told him.
-xxxx-
Later that afternoon, Doctor Dubois left the inn. As he closed the door, he shook his head a little anxiously. Gleb had taken to crutches about as well as a fish to a desert. After three nearly disastrous attempts, Dubois had been ready to cancel the whole thing, but Gleb had persisted in trying. Stubborn boy, the doctor thought to himself, if he doesn't re-break his ankle it will be his leg, his arm, or his neck.
-xxxx-
"Well, I'm still alive at least," Gleb said cheerfully. He was sitting in the desk chair, rubbing his elbow after yet another attempt that had nearly cost him the functionality of several limbs.
Elena was sitting on the bed, exhausted.
"You know, I'm beginning to regret that I suggested this," she said to nobody in particular.
Gleb grimaced.
"Easy for you to say. You didn't just almost have your nose forcefully scraped off your face."
Elena let herself fall backwards so she was lying on bed, laughing helplessly. Gleb stared at her with a combination of confusion and amusement.
"What's so funny?" he asked at last.
Elena sat up weakly, wiping her eyes.
"You are!" she gasped. "I don't know why, but the image of you without a nose…" she dissolved into another fit of laughter.
Gleb laughed along with her. He was grateful that they could still laugh together after what had happened. He had never imagined that they would be able to just put the past behind them. As it was, their friendship seemed to have returned stronger than it was before. It was more than he could have ever hoped for.
Several minutes later, when Elena had regained some of her composure, Gleb suggested that he make another attempt at walking. Sighing, Elena stood up from the bed and came over to him.
"Really, Gleb, it's not that hard. Just put them forward evenly and then hop."
"Yes, I know," he groaned in reply, "but somehow I always hop either too short or too long."
His dismal expression set her laughing again and he couldn't help but join in. It was too ridiculous.
The break seemed to have helped him because he managed to stand and not fall over straight away on the second try. Walking with the crutches, however, still needed work. The fact that they were both laughing over half the time didn't help either of them.
It was nearly five thirty in the evening (Doctor Dubois had arrived at one) when Elena finally told him that enough was enough for one day. She knew she would be needed downstairs and he needed a rest. She left, telling him severely that because of his disgraceful performance he would have to wait extra-long for his dinner then laughing at him and closing the door before he could retort.
Left alone in his room, Gleb heaved a sigh and leaned back against his pillows. It had been a long day; long but rewarding. He still had a long way to go with the crutches, but at least he could move again.
When Elena came to bring him his tray he was dozing, but snapped quickly awake when she opened the door.
"I can't stay and talk tonight," she told him. "After abandoning my work for so long, there are some things that I still have to finish."
He looked up apologetically.
"Sorry that I took up so much of your time today," he said ruefully.
"Not at all! I had more fun than I have for a long time."
"Seeing me fall and make an idiot of myself is amusing to you?" Gleb assumed an offended expression.
Elena nodded unabashedly.
"Absolutely!" she said grinning.
He raised an eyebrow and she shrugged.
"At least my dinner doesn't judge me," he mumbled huffily and then grinned as she burst into laughter at such a ridiculous statement.
It did Elena's heart good to see Gleb so cheerful. For most of the time that he had been at the inn, he had been much more reserved and guarded. Now, she could see that he was actually happy. The shadow that had seemed to haunt him for so long wasn't there anymore. She half wondered if this change was because he no longer had to bear his secret alone. Elena had discovered that having someone in her confidence helped to ease her own wounds. She wondered if he felt the same way.
After a little more banter, Elena left to take care of her unfinished tasks. When she closed Gleb's door, it was with a lighter heart than she had had for weeks.