Hey Readers! I know it's been since Novemeber of last year since I updated this fic, I had some writers block and I was focused on 'Turtles and Transformers Book One' yet I'm getting close to finishing that fic as I'm on the final episode of Transformers Prime season One.
Hope you enjoy this long overdue chapter!
Chapter Thirty-One
Arriving at James's medical room with Rattletrap in tow, Dahlia took in the room around her, the medical beds, the shelves of supplies and equipment.
She recognized some of it from when she worked in the hospital back in Anchorage.
James's medical area could be classed as a professional station, even though it was inside an underground cavern and Dahlia was amazed at how well it was put together, despite they were unknown mutants underground.
"Bring him over here." the Chimpanzee's voice was heard and Dahlia looked over before leading Rattletrap to a medical bench and making him sit on it.
"Tut tut Rattletrap." James said as he looked over the rat's injuries, "Don't you ever learn from your follies?"
"Follies Doc?" Rattletrap cried indignantly "I thought I had it in the bag!"
James shook his head.
"You say that every-time Ryan, and look what happens! You end up in my medical room! You along with that immature grasshopper!"
Dahlia raised an eyebrow as she heard that and she wanted to know about them, yet she decided to focus on the task at hand with Rattletrap.
"I've managed to pop his shoulder back into it's socket doctor." she said "And I have felt it for further damage."
James looked impressed.
"You are observent my dear." he said.
"I'd say she is doc!" Rattletrap said "She's got good hands."
Dahlia cocked her head.
"I got good hands hmm?" she asked "Well I'm glad you think so, I'm not normally that gentle!" she chuckled.
Rattletrap's eyes widened a little.
"You mean you're rough?" he asked.
"I didn't say that." Dahlia said with a sweet smile then started to look over the rest of Rattletrap's injuries which included a gash on his forehead.
"You're going to need some stitches." she said as she placed her fingers on it making the Rat squeak a little.
"Hey! Easy on the cuts lady!" he screeched.
"Oh stop it you big baby." Dahlia grunted "I didn't press that hard!" she then examined it more.
"I know a wound that needs stitches when I see it." she said as James also studied the wound.
"He does yes." James said "Yet that won't be needed, for a Mutopian does heal a lot faster than an average mortal."
Dahlia turned to the Chimpanzee.
"We could just give him the water," James said "Or we can just place a few gauze's on his wounds, and they will be healed within twenty-four hours, we just need to make sure there is no risk of infections."
"Very well doctor." Dahlia said then James walked over to a table and started to arrange some bottles and cotton wool which he poured the contents onto the cotton wool balls and started to dab at Rattletrap's wounds.
"Oww! Oww!" Rattletrap whined as James did his job and Dahlia did the same on some wounds she found on his shoulders.
"Be quiet you big sissy! Take it like a man!" she said "If you're gonna continue to crash and hurt yourself, you should get used to this!"
James chuckled.
"Trust me my dear, he never does!" he said then he looked at the wounds "Okay, now we can apply some plasters."
He walked to the table and brought back some plasters, band aids and bandages which he handed a few to Dahlia and she started to cover Rattletrap's wounds with them.
As Dahlia studied the rest of Rattletrap's wounds she soon saw the gash on his head was almost healed and it amazed her.
"That healed really quickly." she exclaimed.
"That's the thing with us Mutopians." James said "We heal a lot faster than average, the water that we drank, it not only gives us these humanoid animal forms, but we gain new strength and longer life expectancy."
"Have you ever studied it's properties?" the wolf asked as she dabbed Rattletrap's last few wounds making him wince again.
"I have yes, along with my friend and fellow medic Donatello, but it's still a mystery."
"Hmmm." Dahlia said twirling a lock of her hair around her finger as she thought about what the Chimpanzee said, then she looked over at Rattletrap who was sitting on the medical bed wondering if he was going to be released or not.
James saw the rat's look and nodded.
"You're free to go Ryan." he said "But please don't let me catch you doing anything dangerous again too soon!"
"No promises Doc!" Rattletrap said as he got off the medical table and started to strut towards the exit then he looked back at Dahlia and gave a goofy grin before leaving.
Dahlia watched him leave and blinked.
"Is he always like that?" she asked.
James nodded.
"Indeed yes my dear, one of my most frequent patients, along with Percy the Grasshopper, that idiot's always ending up in here on way or another…."
As he spoke, the door opened again and Jack the Wolf and Sarah the Cheetah appeared with Percy looking bruised and beaten up and his arms over their shoulders.
Sarah was looking rather cross because there was a wet red stain on her top.
Upon seeing them James groaned.
"Why did I have to jinx that?" he asked then folded his arms "What happened?" he groaned even though he already knew the answer.
Jack and Sarah walked in and placed Percy on the medical bed.
"Who do you think?" Sarah asked "The idiot decided it would be funny to put a fake worm in Kate's drink! Not only did she jump up and throw the glass of red berry juice at me, but she as usual decided to try and kill him!
"I honestly thought she was actually." Jack said "The way she grabbed him and threw him against the wall then on one of the tables and broke it! Then proceeded to whip him like a pinata!"
"She did not!" James exclaimed and Dahlia's eyes widened.
"Oh yes she did!" Sarah vouched for the wolf then she saw Dahlia "Oh hi!"
"Hello." Dahlia said then frowned "What's this strange rivalry him and this Kate girl have?"
Sarah rolled her eyes.
"Oh don't get me started!" she said "Percy's a proper prankster, and his prime target is always Kate!"
James nodded.
"Never learns! No matter what!" he said as he studied Percy all over.
Sarah looked at her top.
"I better get this cleaned, and see if Heather and Amber have been able to calm Kate down."
"Good idea!" Jack said as he walked out the medical room with Sarah then Dahlia walked over to help James.
Percy looked over at Dahlia as she studied his bruises with James.
"So, you're a regular here too?" she asked as she analyzed one of the bruises and Percy squeaked.
"Careful!" he said.
"I am!" Dahlia snapped "Goodness me! Call yourself a man! I thought Rattletrap was bad!"
"I'm not as regular as that rat!" Percy huffed to which James tutted.
"Oh I doubt that very much boy." he said "I've been keeping a tally score every-time you and Ryan come in here! and you're both on an equal level!"
"Oh man really?" Percy asked as he flopped back on the medical bed only to jump slightly as a bruise on the lower part of his body twinged.
"Afraid so." James said "What in the hell made you decide to play another stupid prank on Kate?" he demanded "You know what she does every time you do that!"
"I don't know." Percy said "I guess it's her reaction that's all, seeing a stiff angry person like her fly off the handle, it's rather amusing...Yeeeowww!" he then yelled in pain as Dahlia squeezed his leg where there was another bruise forming.
"Pushing someone to get a reaction." she asked "That's not very mature, it's bullying in fact!" she squeezed harder on the bruise and Percy yelped again.
"It's not bullying!" he protested "I never intend to hurt her! I just want to see her lighten up!"
Dahlia narrowed your eyes.
"Couldn't you find other ways to lighten her mood than play stupid jokes?" she asked.
"Afraid not." James said "Percy is just the way he is, just because."
"Well if he ends up in here again because of another bad practical joke, well, I won't be as Gentle!" as she said the last word she rubbed the bruises roughly with arnica cream making the grasshopper squeak.
"Whoa man!" Percy exclaimed "Were you always like that when you were a nurse in the human world."
Dahlia gave an evil smirk.
"No…" she said then looked at the cuts on his body.
"Hmmm, I wonder where you got those?" she asked.
"Kate's whip that's what." James said "Again, they're not deep and as I can see they're healing nicely, so no need for stitches or gauzes."
"Shame." Dahlia said as she looked at them and remembered how she made Rattletrap squirm with her rough touches.
After five minutes, James gave Percy the all clear to leave the medical room.
"Thanks Doc." he said then was about to walk out the door when Tyroth appeared in the doorway making him jump a foot in the air and go pale.
"Boss!" he cried seeing the frown on the dragon's face.
"Again Percy?" Tyroth growled "Another worm in the drinking glass gag!? Why am I not surprised!"
"I can explain!" Percy cried.
"You say that all the time!" Tyroth snapped "But it never gets you out of trouble does it? All these years and it never changes!" he beckoned to the grasshopper who walked towards him like one condemned.
"You and I are gonna talk, then we'll discuss your punishment!"
Percy gulped as he walked out of the door then Tyroth looked back at James and Dahlia.
"I see you're finding your place here Dahlia." Tyroth smiled "Given your nursing background."
'She's impressed me with her skills that's for sure." James said "Rattletrap had dislocted his shoulder but she apprantly popped it back in before he was brought her."
"Quick at the job too." Tyroth said impressed "Well, I hope you and James do well in getting more acquainted." he said to the wolf, "And I hope to see more from your tiger companion."
It was then Dahlia remembered Jun and how she believed he had gone Topside and she wondered whether to tell Tyroth, but she didn't want to get Jun into trouble so she decided to leave it and hope Jun would turn up sooner rather than later.
"Of course." she said to which Tyroth nodded.
"Great!" he said "But now if you're excuse me, I have a grasshopper to discipline!"
"By all means." James said as he watched the Dragon leave the doorway.
After he left, Dahlia looked towards James.
"What sort of punishment do you think Percy will be in for?" she asked.
"Oh don't worry dear." James smirked "It won't be too cruel, only some hard labour, like washing the floor, or cleaning out the greasy pots in the kitchen, or scrubbing the toilets, the nasty ones."
"Sounds fair." Dahlia thought.
"Or being banned from certain activities." James added "Basically grounding depending on the offence."
Dahlia nodded as she listened.
"Makes perfect sense, well I often got consequences if I was naughty as a kid, like a time-out at home, or being made to stand in the corner, as a teen I never got into much trouble, at least not that I can remember, I was never one of those girls who wanted to sneak out to parties or grow up too fast."
"You sound like a rather grounded woman." James said "And when I mean grounded, like you got your feet on the ground."
Dahlia chuckled.
"I suppose I do." she said "Well, I can be a dreamer, but most of the time I am practical, and I take my work seriously."
"A serious worker is a good thing to have." James said then he beckoned with his head to lead the wolf into the front part of his Medical quarters where there was a desk and filing cabinets and shelves with books and medical style ornaments like a model of the human anatomy, medical posters and lists of medicines and equipment, as well as the large plastic skeleton behind the desk.
James took off his white coat and hung it on a coat hanger behind the desk then sat in the chair then gestured to Dahlia to sit opposite him.
"You know Dahlia." he said "I have been a doctor for a long time, both as a human and as a mutant, and even though I've had help from others, including April 'O' Neil and Donatello…"
As he spoke the Chimpanzee pushed a framed photograph towards the wolf and she saw a red headed woman, a humanoid turtle in a purple mask and James himself in it standing together.
"That was taken a few years back, about a year after we meet our friends in New York, it's one of my favourite photos." James explained "Anyway, they're not always here in Mutopia and despite the help from the others here, I've never had anyone else properly trained to assist me."
Dahlia was silent as she listened to the Chimpanzee as he sat there looking at her and twiddling his thumbs.
"What I'm saying is, I've never had anyone in here with your previous training as a registered nurse, and after what I observed, I would like to give you the opportunity to join me in my profession here in Mutopia."
Dahlia blinked as she listened.
"You want me to work here with you?" she asked.
James smiled.
"More than just work with me my dear." James said "But you'll be my apprentice, my protegee, assistant, all of the above, and I'll even teach you skills beyond that of your nursing training."
"Really?" Dahlia asked, her heart beating faster as she listened and she began to think of how she enjoyed her work as a nurse and now given what she had done earlier, she could continue it, yet as a mutant down in Mutopia.
James nodded.
"I know its different from what you might have been doing or were used to as a human, but the work here is the same, just in a smaller environment." he said.
"I understand." Dahlia said "But if I am still able to use my skills I worked so hard for, and continue to use, then yes, I'd love to be your assistant." she beamed.
"That pleases me grately." James said leaning over and holding out his hand and Dahlia reached over to shake it and they formally shook hands.
"Welcome." James said "Now, we better find the right uniform for you." he chuckled as he stood up and walked to another room in his quarters.
So Dahlia has helped James in his medical room, with both Rattletrap and Percy! What are the odds they'd appear in James's Medical room almost at the same time?
Now James has given Dahlia the chance to be his assistant and apperentice! Wonder how Jun will feel about that when he returns?