Apply First Aid: Part Three (The Good News)

Author's Note: Oooo ok guys, here's your last "comforting" chapter before things start to take a turn for the worse. I won't say anymore, y'all just enjoy the happiness while it lasts. (Considering this chapter isn't even that happy, you guys might be in trouble…)

John Dory glared up at the large chair towering before him, his eyes narrowed in irritation. He was really starting to get sick of this stupid hat.

He let out a sigh, just about to shimmy his way up the side when he once again felt Floyd's hair wrap around him, lifting him into the air and setting him down on the chair next to him. "You are incredibly stubborn, you know that right?" Floyd huffed, arms crossed over his chest as his hair retracted. "You're not feeling good, remember? Can you just try to take it easy?"

"What? I had it handled," John Dory grumbled, hunching his shoulders. He pulled uncomfortably at his stifling shirt collar, looking around the room with narrowed eyes. There was a large bed up against one wall, a desk covered with books and folders sitting next to them, and a counter with many complex, disturbing looking tools laying out on it. The sight was enough to make him stiffen, feeling his heart rate kick up a notch. "Well this looks… fun," he mused as a poor attempt at a joke.

"Mhmm," Floyd hummed, his own nervous eyes scanning the room. John Dory quickly backtracked, shooting his brother a reassuring smile.

"It's all going to be good, Floyd," he said encouragingly, despite his own nerves starting to get the best of him. "It'll be better to know, right?" Floyd gave him a small, albeit worried smile back.

"Right," Floyd replied, forcing himself to take a slow, deep breath.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, causing both Floyd and John Dory to jump, their hair bristling. John Dory grabbed Floyd's hand instinctually, reaching his other hand up to pull his now slightly shifted hat lower over his hair. The door opened, and in walked a blue-striped Vacationer, her violet hair tied up in a tight bun with a few strands falling down next to her glasses. She smiled at the two of them, rubbing her hands together with something that made John Dory's nose curl.

"Hi there," she said in a cheery voice. "I'm Doctor Desiree." She walked over to her desk, sitting down and gazing at a sheet of paper in her hand. She then looked up, eyes flicking between the two of them before finally landing on John Dory, her smile falling a bit as they traced up and down his body. "You must be Floyd."

"Heh…" John Dory felt a nervous laugh escape his lips as he stepped back, pushing his younger brother in front of him. "No no no, this is Floyd," he replied, patting his brother's shoulders as Floyd gave a small, hesitant wave.

Dr. Desiree looked between the two of them again, squinting as she pulled her glasses down slightly.

"I know, I know, I understand your confusion; it's hard to tell us apart," John Dory said quickly, throwing an arm over his brother's shoulders. "We hear it all the time; we're practically twins."

Floyd rolled his eyes at this, gently pushing JD off of him. "He's my brother," Floyd explained, turning back towards the doctor. "John Dory."

Dr. Desiree blinked a few times before she pushed her glasses back up onto her nose. "I see…" she replied, sounding uncertain. She cleared her throat, the kind smile returning to her face. "My apologies. It's nice to meet you, Floyd. I'm glad to see you're looking well." Her eyes seemed to flick back to John Dory for just a moment before she focused her attention on Floyd. "So, how are you feeling today?"

"Heh… nervous?" Floyd answered candidly, his arms wrapped tightly around himself. John Dory moved to his brother's side, setting a comforting hand on his back.

Dr. Desiree's face grew sad as she nodded. "I can imagine. I read through your case file a bit before I came in here. You've surely been through a lot, haven't you?"

Floyd nodded, his eyes dropping down towards the floor. John Dory felt his jaw grow tight, memories of his brother trapped in that diamond prison flashing through his head…

"Well," the doctor continued, her voice gentle and reassuring. "If it's any consolation, from simply a visual standpoint, I'm already liking what I see today. You're alert, have good color… It appears you're really doing well, especially considering everything that's happened. I'm pretty optimistic about our visit." She sat back in her chair, crossing her hands over her lap. "I still have a few tests I'd like to run, just to confirm we're on the right track, but we can take it slow. I'll talk you through what I'd like to do, then we can get on with the tests, and then discuss what we can do for you moving forward. Does that sound ok?"

Floyd seemed to relax a bit, letting his arms drop back down to his sides. John Dory brought his hand up to his brother's shoulder, squeezing it gently.

"Alright," Dr. Desiree continued, patting the edge of the counter next to her. "Why don't you hop up here, and we'll chat for a bit, ok?" Floyd did as he was told, climbing up onto the counter and taking a seat. John Dory followed right behind him, letting his legs dangle over the edge.

As they began to discuss the different tests, John Dory found it difficult to focus on their conversation. He tried, he really did, but all of a sudden, it seemed like his sleepless nights were starting to catch up to him. He sat quietly next to Floyd, holding his brother's hand as his head started to nod, the voices of Floyd and the doctor beginning to grow fuzzy and distant, blurring together into a low murmur against his ears. His eyes began to droop closed, despite his best efforts, like he was fighting against gravity. He was just so completely and utterly exhausted, and the clothes he was wearing right now really weren't helping his situation.

He was warm, uncomfortably warm, the temperature not changing a bit since they'd been inside the clinic. The heat only served to make him feel even more fatigued, his chin dipping further into his jacket collar.

Floyd also seemed to be unknowingly contributing to this overwhelming tiredness washing through John Dory. He didn't know how to describe it, but his brother had an almost… calming presence. They were both still nervous, JD could tell from the tense tone in his brother's voice and his own racing heart, but there was just this aura of solace radiating from him, a feeling of comfort. It was a stark difference from when John Dory was out by himself in the woods, where his anxiety seemed to outcompete his body's need for sleep. He felt so much more at ease around his brother, safe almost. He could feel Floyd tracing swooping figures across his hand, the motion soft and smooth, lulling him deeper into his own exhaustion.

Don't close your eyes… he chided to himself, staring blankly down at his feet. He couldn't fall asleep, not now. Floyd needed him. But his body wasn't listening, his head continuing to nod as his eyes threatened to shut.

"John?"

"I'm up!" John Dory jolted to attention, turning his gaze towards Floyd and Dr. Desiree, who were both giving him a worried look. "Sorry, sorry," he said quickly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Had a few late nights recently." He forced out a laugh, clearing his throat. "What's going on?"

"She's going to do the tests now…" Floyd trailed off, looking down towards where John Dory appeared to have a death grip on his hand.

"Right, right," John Dory replied, yanking his hand back. He gave his brother a weak thumbs up. "You got this, Floyd!" Floyd smiled back at him, worry still flashing in his eyes, but he stood up, walking closer to the doctor.

Dr. Desiree took a few readings on Floyd, listening to his heart, checking his reflexes, all sorts of interesting looking doctor stuff. John Dory was only half paying attention though, still trying to chase the tiredness from his mind. He fought the urge to begin pacing, instead just fiddling with his glove and goggles as he waited.

Finally, the doctor drew a little bit of blood, before letting out a satisfied hum. "Alright, I think I've got everything I need!" she said, smiling down at Floyd as she gave him a small bandage for his arm. "Everything seems to be looking good so far. These last tests should only take a few minutes, so I'll be right back. Just hang tight." And with that, she exited the room, leaving John Dory and Floyd to themselves.

"How you feeling, Floyd?" John Dory asked as his brother strode over to him.

"Better now," Floyd replied, a smile on his face. "So far so good, right?"

"Pft, c'mon now, you're passing with flying colors!" John Dory exclaimed, throwing his hands up dramatically.

Floyd laughed, sitting down next to John Dory. "I have to admit, you were right. It is a relief, just… knowing."

"Oh, I'm sorry, what was that?" John Dory asked mockingly, leaning towards his brother and cupping a hand behind his ear. "You'll have to forgive me, I'm old and can't hear well. Did I just hear you say I was right? A genius? Wise beyond my years?"

"Yeah yeah…." Floyd replied, pushing JD away with a snicker, amusement twinkling in his eyes. Then, his face dropped slightly, his voice adopting a softer tone. "I uh, I wanted to thank you. For coming with me today. I don't think I would've gone if it wasn't for you." He turned his gaze up towards John Dory, eyes slightly misty. "It really means a lot."

John Dory felt his heart ache at his little brother's sincerity. Without really thinking about it, he pulled Floyd into a hug. "Of course, Floyd," he said, his voice heavy. "I would do anything for you guys." Floyd hugged him back, burying his face in JD's shoulder. He wanted to stay there, just stay in that moment for a little longer, but he already could feel that nagging fear in the back of his mind…

What are you doing? You want to hurt him too?

He forced himself to pull back, gripping his brother's shoulders. "I just want you to be happy," he continued, hoping Floyd couldn't hear the slight tremor in his voice.

Floyd smiled back at him, tears welling up in his eyes. He quickly wiped them away, turning back out towards the empty room. "Dang it, John Dory, you suck," he laughed shakily.

"Well, I am known for my amazing, heartfelt speeches," John Dory boasted, leaning back on his hands. "You're welcome."

They sat silently for a bit, allowing for Floyd to dry his tears. John Dory couldn't help but close his eyes for just a moment, exhaustion crashing over him once again. He flicked his ears in irritation, resisting the urge to wipe his sweating brow. It was too hot in here. His clothes were much too heavy, the fabric was itchy, the heat was making his brain all fuzzy, and he couldn't keep his stupid eyes open. It was a strange mix: being so utterly exhausted but also practically crawling out of his skin at the same time.

"Are you feeling any better?" John Dory perked up a bit, peeking over at Floyd, who was giving him a worried look.

"I'm good," he replied, forcing an energetic tone to his voice. He rubbed at his forehead, trying to clear his scattered thoughts. "Like I said, I had a few late nights. You know how much of a party animal I am."

"Uh huh…" Floyd said, unconvinced. He was silent for a moment before he spoke again. "You just seem so…" he said hesitantly, as if he were trying to choose his words correctly. "Tired," he settled on finally, looking unsatisfied, his hands gripping tight onto his pants. John Dory could tell the word meant more to his brother than it did to him. He was just about to sputter out some lame attempt at a joke when a knock came at the door, and Dr. Desiree peeked her head back in.

"Floyd?" she chirped with a smile, making her way inside. John Dory could see his brother visibly stiffen, so he reached out to him, gently grabbing his hand. Dr. Desiree sat down at her desk, adjusting her glasses. "Well, I'm not going to keep you waiting any longer. Let me start out by saying that your tests all came back normal. You're going to be just fine."

John Dory let out an exuberant cheer, all tiredness forgotten, as Floyd breathed a sigh of relief, clutching at his chest. "See Floyd? I told you!" John Dory said excitedly, clapping his brother on the back. "Clean bill of health, baby!"

Dr. Desiree chuckled at this, grabbing a book from her desk. "Indeed. It seems you've physically recovered from most of the trauma inflicted on you. You're still just a bit anemic, but that's to be expected." She flipped through the book to a marked page. "When I heard about what had happened to you, I'd skimmed through some old troll history books to see if I could happen to find any mention of trolls who'd gone through your same situation, and unfortunately, I did." She turned the book around so Floyd could read it. John Dory didn't even bother, appalled by how much text there was.

"Seems like this was a common practice way back when, before Bergens decided it was much easier to just… Well, I'm sure I don't have to elaborate." She pursed her lips for a moment before continuing. "Anyways, you trolls are… interesting creatures. An important part of who you are is something this book refers to as 'Essence.' It's what keeps you alive. Your music, your love, your happiness, it's all a part of it. And that's what this brutish process steals away from you."

She turned the book back to her, reading through it. "I imagine you still tire very easily since you've gotten back. Probably had some dizzy spells too."

Floyd nodded, eyes wide. "Yeah… exactly that," he said, playing nervously with his hands.

She closed the book, setting it gently on her lap. "That makes sense. Your body is still working on replenishing the essence that was ripped from you. That's something that will just take time." She smiled, tilting her head to the side. "And it seems to me like you're doing the exact right thing to speed up the process. The book mentioned that trolls who surrounded themselves with what fuels their essence were the ones who made the quickest recoveries. Things like your music, your community, your friends…" She nodded towards John Dory. "...your family. People who love you, things that make you happy. All of this will help your healing process, help get your essence back up to where it used to be." Her face grew slightly grim. "Quite literally, the worst thing a troll can possibly do is isolate themselves. It deprives them of everything that makes them who they are."

JD and Floyd exchanged a brief look. He could tell they were both thinking of their youngest brother, and the twenty years he'd spent alone in his bunker. Guilt settled heavily in his gut. He quickly turned to look back at the doctor, but he could feel Floyd's eyes linger on him for just a second longer before he did the same.

"But," Dr. Desiree continued, the smile returning to her face, "I don't think you have that problem. And I imagine you'll make a full recovery in no time."

John Dory had to stop himself from letting out another cheer. His brother was going to be ok. He knew he would be, but now he really knew. And just seeing the joyous relief on Floyd's face meant the world to him. After everything his brother had gone through, he deserved to be happy.

"So I recommend you just keep doing what you're doing," Dr. Desiree concluded, clapping her hands together. "It's clearly working for you. We can check in a few weeks to see how your progress is going, but I'm quite sure you'll be fully recovered within a month." Her smile tightened ever so slightly. "However, regarding your hair…" She gestured towards the white roots in Floyd's vibrant pink hair. "...I'm not so sure about. The white may go away over time, but I don't believe it'll ever truly go away."

"Eh, that's ok," Floyd shrugged. He gently rubbed his arms, looking up at his hair. "I mean, it just kind of shows I went through something terrible, right? But I came out the other side so… I guess I'm kind of ok with it?" he smiled up at John Dory, his eyes sparkling. "Besides, I think it kind of makes me look cool, don't you think?"

John Dory grinned proudly at his brother, slapping a hand on his back. "Heck yeah it does!"

Floyd laughed at this, the sound making John Dory smile even wider as he leapt excitedly to his feet, despite his body's quiet protest. "Argh, I'm so happy for you!" he exclaimed, pulling his brother up with him. "We have to go tell Bruce! We have to celebrate!" He spun around dramatically, ignoring the way his head seemed to swirl with the motion. He was just about to hop down off of the counter when he felt Floyd grab his wrist, pulling him back. He turned around, confused. Floyd smiled at him sheepishly, pointing towards his hand.

Oh, right. John Dory had to keep up his end of the bargain.

He felt his shoulders droop slightly, but he shook his head, trying to drum up some confidence. He'd promised Floyd he'd do this. "Sorry," he said tightly, forcing a smile to his face. "Got ahead of myself."

Floyd nodded understandingly, grabbing his brother's good hand and turning back towards Dr. Desiree, who had just been getting up to leave. "Hey uh, could we actually ask a favor of you?"

Dr. Desiree blinked, looking surprised, but she sat back down in her chair, adjusting her glasses. "Sure. What can I do for you?"

Floyd looked over at JD, as if he were asking for permission. And against his better judgment, John Dory felt himself nod. Floyd squeezed his hand reassuringly before turning his gaze back to Dr. Desiree.

"I was wondering if you have a second to take a look at my brother?" he asked politely. John Dory tried not to grimace, his shoulders tensing up further.

Dr. Desiree looked between the two of them, worry flashing in her eyes. "Of course," she replied gently, John Dory feeling incredibly small beneath her gaze. "I think that would be a good idea."

"He has an old injury on his hand," Floyd continued. "And it's been hurting him for a while now."

"Not hurting," John Dory chimed in defensively, trying not to hiss through his clenched teeth. "It just aches sometimes; it's really not a big deal."

"You just want me to look at your… hand?" Dr. Desiree asked, looking confused.

John Dory tried to act nonchalant despite the icy chill spreading through his veins, firmly setting his hands on his hips. "Yeah, well, it'll make my brother feel better, so…"

Dr. Desiree shot a look towards Floyd before looking back at John Dory, her face troubled. She then let out a sigh, her lips curling into a kind, albeit concerned, smile. "Sure, I can take a look at it," she said, patting the counter next to her. "Come over here; I'll see what I can do."

As John Dory walked over, Floyd by his side, he could feel that familiar sense of dread begin to settle in his gut. He didn't have a good feeling about this.

Maybe he should have run out of here when he had the chance.

Author's Note: Real quick, here's a little side note I wanted to add diving into the brother's love languages (my own little headcanon):

John Dory:

1. Physical Touch

2. Quality Time

3. Receiving Gifts (Collects memorabilia, dad's goggles, pictures…)

4. Acts of Service

5. Words

Bruce:

1. Words

2. Quality Time

3. Acts of Service

4. Physical Touch

5. Receiving Gifts

Clay:

1. Words

2. Acts of Service

3. Quality Time

4. Physical Touch

5. Receiving Gifts

Floyd:

1. Physical Touch

2. Quality Time

3. Words

4. Acts of Service

5. Receiving Gifts

Branch:

1. Quality Time (Me: sob, cry)

2. Receiving Gifts

3. Words

4. Acts of Service

5. Physical Touch