Where's she going, scowling like that?

Crofter marched towards the clinic, each step dragging as if it required the whole of her energy. I followed behind her, landing lightly on her shoulder. She pulled the door open just enough to let herself in and let it fall closed on its own behind her. Maru was standing on the other side of the clinic's counter, shuffling papers into neat stacks. She smiled as she looked up and noticed the farmer.

"Good afternoon! I was beginning to think I would need to send you another reminder letter. You're two months overdue for your checkup."

"My 'pologies, Miss Maru. I didn't mean to keep you waiting."

Crofter shuffled her feet beneath her, unintentionally knocking some of the dust off her boots onto the sterile floor. She scrawled her name on the check in sheet had Maru turned towards her as she drawled on,

"I'm not too wholly fond of getting exams, it ain't nothing against you."

"No offense taken. Dr. Harvey has stepped out for the moment, but if you'd like you can head to one of our waiting rooms. He should be back soon."

"If he ain't here, I'll just come back later. Gotta water crops…"

Crofter began to sidle towards the door. Maru raised an eyebrow. I extended my tendrils into Maru, curious about how she would react to the obvious lie. She chuckled, amused at the attempt to escape.

"It's afternoon, I'm sure you've already done that."

"...right."

Crofter shifted uncomfortably and coughed into her fist.

Does she have something contagious, or was she just clearing her throat? Evelyn can't handle another cold this year.

The farmer swallowed and tried to excuse herself again.

"Well, either way, I'd rather not take up space here. I'll try again tomorrow."

"Nonsense. If you're in that much of a hurry, I'll do your exam myself."

Crofted smacker her hands against her thighs, grinning.

"Well I'll be..! I didn't know you were a doctor. Congratulations! I really do need to come into town more."

"I'm not, but it's just a physical. Now if you don't mind, please meet me through those double doors."

I'm not sure Harvey's a real doctor either actually, but I am sure I can handle this.

Crofter sighed and shook her head, defeated. A well-meaning smile settled on her face as she slunk towards the double doors. Maru was waiting on the other side to guide her towards the examination room. She pointed at the examination table.

"Sit."

Crofter flashed her lopsided smile at the nurse.

"Yes ma'am."

She hopped up on the table, setting her large straw hat on her lap. Maru smiled back, happy that the farmer was choosing to comply this time. She watched the farmer's fingers rub the brim of her hat nervously.

I remember when she had to be brought in from the mines. I thought I would have to tie her to the bed to keep her from leaving before she was healed.

"There's no need for formalities, you know. We're neighbors."

The farmer beamed.

"Alright then, Miss Maru. Whatever you say."

Maru slid her hands into two blue nitrile gloves and lifted a light from a drawer. She started walking around the farmer.

"Could you please move your hair? I need to look into your ears with this."

The farmer clawed her hands through her auburn hair, pulling it out of the way. Maru aimed the light where she needed it.

Her hair's so shiny. It looks so soft~. And this ear is free of irritation and excess wax.

"All clear there."

Maru moved to Crofter's other side. When the farmer didn't immediately move her hair out of the way, Maru tucked the hair aside.

"Now we'll need to-"

Crofter's eyes grew unfocused. She stared at Maru as she stepped back in front of her.

Crofter's looking at me so strangely. Oh, I touched her hair without asking first. Of course that would be upsetting.

"Sorry about that, I should have asked first."

"N-no need to apologize, you're just fine."

Crofter watched her hands as she set the light down and picked up the end of her stethoscope.

Maru cleared her throat before speaking.

"I'll need to lay this over your shirt in a few places. Can you please breathe normally for me for a moment?"

"I wasn't plannin' on stoppin' anytime soon."

Crofter laughed at her own joke, her legs kicking beneath her. Maru smiled in response, placing the end of the stethoscope against her chest.

"Let's hope not. Though with the way you take on those mines, I do worry."

"You worry about me?"

Crofter looked up at her, her clear brown eyes widening with good humored surprise.

Her eyes shine too. Like sunlight on a deep pool of water, or…focus, Maru. No time for poetic rambling. And I must remember to send Elliot his reminder letter later, he's overdue as well.

"Please look forwards and take a deep breath."

The farmer did as instructed. Maru moved the stethoscope to a point on her back.

"One more."

The farmer complied again, her hands clenched down on the edge of her hat.

I wish she didn't seem so nervous. Is she really that protective of her hair?

"And again?"

The farmer breathed and exhaled deeply, coughing a bit at the end.

Maru crossed her arms over her chest and stepped back.

"It's all that dust in the mines, you're going to give yourself black lung. Please take your respiratory health more seriously."

"I take my health very seriously, I promise."

Crofter coughed again as her breathing returned to its normal, too shallow pattern.

"I'm going to have to mark that cough down in your chart. Harvey should reach out to you within a week about it. You may need to come in again, depending on what he says. Now, I'm going to wrap this cuff around your arm to check your blood pressure. Uncross your legs and relax your hands, please. It interferes with the results if your body is tensed."

Crofter sat up straight and let her legs dangle as Maru's confident hands moved her arm into position. She pushed up the farmer's sleeve to her shoulder and wrapped the cuff around her firm bicep.

All that farm work must keep her busy.

She pressed a button and the machine whirred to life, tightening the cuff on Crofter's arm.

The beauty of robotics never ceases to amaze me. This little device has been used a hundred times, easily, and yet it still works perfectly. If only human beings could function so reliably.

She glanced down at the device's screen as it beeped its completion, sucking her teeth before stating she spoke.

"Tsk…I'm going to try the other arm, there's no way this reading is correct."

"Whatever you think is best. My heart's fine though. No troubles with it yet."

Crofter rapped her knuckles against her sternum. Maru pushed up her other sleeve and wrapped the cuff around her, watching in disbelief as the numbers climbed to unrealistic heights.

Her skin is warm under my gloves too, does she have a fever? Is she sick? If so, I'll have to hold her here until Harvey gets back. There's no way she'll be willing to come back again so soon.

The machine beeped again. This reading was even higher than before.

"Crofter, are you feeling okay? Your pulse is through the roof."

"Ah. Well, that might be on account of my nerves."

Crofter looked down at the floor, a blush spreading over her cheeks deep enough to hide her freckles.

Her freckles are quite pretty. I mean…that's what Haley was saying when she came in for her yearly check up. She even asked Harvey if there was plastic surgery to have them implanted. Imagine something so ridiculous.

"You are having some anxiety?"

"Don't know if 'anxiety' is quite the right term for it, but it ain't nothing to worry about."

Maru grabbed an infrared thermometer off the counter and pointed it at the farmer's forehead. It beeped a moment later.

"Your temperature is pretty normal. If anxiety isn't the right word, what is?"

Leaned against the counter in front of the farmer, her arms recrossing over her chest.

"I don't mean to offend or anything, but ahh…well, Miss Maru, you're real cute. It's making me a bit flustered."

Oh.

Oh!

Maru's mind kicked into overdrive, her thoughts flashing past too quickly for me to read. I felt her reel back, her hands landing on the counter behind her.

Why does that make me feel…good? It's annoying when most people call me cute. It feels like they're belittling me, or like they're brushing off my competency for my looks. But when she does it…?

Maru looked the farmer over. She was gazing bashfully at the floor. Her ankles crossed and uncrossed in front of her as she readjusted herself on the table. Her sun-weathered hands had worked a bit of straw loose from her hat, and she was twisting it around her finger. A single auburn tress of hair fell over her features, grown rosy with embarrassment.

"I know not everyone's the type to look kindly at people like me. I wasn't planning to bring it up at all, except that you asked so nicely."

She's so pretty.

Maru stepped closer to her, her gloved hand reaching out to tuck the errant hairs back into place.

"It's no problem, so don't be nervous."

"You mean it?"

"Yes, in fact I think you're pretty cute too."

If it'll help her calm down enough for me to get a good blood pressure reading, I might as well tell her. She has to know she's gorgeous already. You can't just walk around looking like that and not know you're attractive. I bet-!

The farmer leaned closer to her as Maru followed her thoughts, her mind racing towards the easiest way to write off her newfound attraction to her patient. Crofter pressed their lips together, and Maru froze. She stared down at the farmer, whose eyes had squeezed shut.

That's not what I meant, that's not what…her lips are soft. And she tastes so good. No guy I've kissed has ever…I'm at work. Shit, I'm at work.

Crofter leaned back, her face even more flushed than before.

"Sorry, was that not…? I didn't mean to…I'll just be going."

Slow down. I don't know how to process this yet.

"I'll come back when Harvey's here. You won't ever have to worry 'bout seeing my face again, don't fret."

Wait. I don't know how I feel, but I don't want to not see her again. Slow down, slow everything down.

Crofter lifted her hat onto her head and hopped off the table. Maru caught her hand as she started to leave.

Don't go.

Crofter looked back at her, eyes uncertain and fearful. Maru stepped closer to her, capturing her lips in a kiss again. Crofter wrapped her arm behind her gently, careful not to crush Maru's smaller form.

This is so many different ethics violations. I could lose my job…

Crofter scooped Maru up, plucking her off the ground as easily as she might pick a flower from the side of the road. Maru's hand cupped the back of her neck, dragging herself up towards Crofter's lips again.

Not just my job, I could lose my license to practice medicine at all. And without this job I won't be able to fund my robotics…

Crofter set her down on the end of the examination table, trailing hot kisses down her neck as she fumbled with Maru's uniform. Maru gasped as Crofter's hands found their way beneath its edge, calloused fingers grasping at her bare thighs. Her legs parted, wrapping behind Crofter to pull her closer as their lips met again. She opened to the kiss, her soft lips parting beneath Crofter's chapped ones to allow her entry.

Of course, that's only if I get caught…

The farmer's hot tongue explored her mouth hungrily, desperately. Maru matched her passion, pushing herself against the larger woman hard enough her lip began to bruise. Crofter's hands crept up, one finger rubbing Maru over the fabric of her panties. Maru moaned as the farmer found her sensitive clit, her fingers slick with Maru's desire. She rolled her fingers over it, pressing and rubbing until Maru threw her head back and moaned the farmer's name.

"Fuck, Crofter, that feels amazing~!"

Crofter chuckled, another smile sliding over her face.

"With the way you're acting, I could almost believe you'd never been with a woman before."

"I…"

Maru looked away, her own cheeks now as red as Crofter's.

"I see. Well darlin', let me show you how good you can feel."

Crofter's fingers slipped down between Maru's lips, rubbing gently at her entrance. She slipped two fingertips in together, curling them like she was beckoning to something deep inside the nurse. Maru moaned, throwing her arms around Crofter and pulling her close. Crofter's fingers began to move faster, pressing against a spot that made Maru's whole body shake when she touched it. Maru held their bodies flush together, her face pressed into Crofter's neck as she moaned and writhed under the farmer's hand. Tension built inside of her, pooling in her stomach and spreading through her until every muscle in her body had tightened. Crofter's free hand found Maru's back, rubbing along towards her shoulder blades until she reached Maru's head. Maru's moans had grown louder, more fervent. She groaned desperately into Crofter's ear as the farmer's fingers worked in and out of her.

"C-Crofter, this is too much, I'm gonna-ahh~!"

"Shh, just relax darlin'. I'll take care of you."

Crofter cupped her hand over the back of Maru's head, petting her hair gently as she relentlessly finger fucked the nurse. Maru's arms wrapped so tightly around Crofter that she was sure the woman wouldn't be able to breathe. She shouted as she came, her eyes squeezed shut and her head pressed against Crofter's shoulder. Crofter murmured in her ear as she finished.

"There you go, just let it out. Pretty girls like you shouldn't have to hide their feelin's."

Crofter wiped her fingers on her own pants and wrapped her arm around Maru's waist. They held each other tightly as Maru panted, her heartbeat finally slowing back to its normal rate. Maru spoke first.

"S-so…like I was saying…you need to take your respiratory health more seriously and…it's not often that I lose my place like this."

"You think you might wanna come see me tomorrow? I could make us lunch."

"I think I'd like that."

"Good to hear it."

I withdrew my tendrils from Maru. As I left, the women began cleaning the exam room. Harvey's presence could be felt at the saloon, and it wouldn't be leaving to disturb them soon.