Sanctuary
Athens, Greece
3:39 PM

Shura walked calmly toward his temple. Mulder followed silently, occasionally glancing back down the staircase. He really didn't like the idea of having let Scully go off alone for a blood draw – especially with strangers.

"What's wrong? Worried?" Shura picked up on his tension. "Don't worry, she'll be safe and well taken care of."

Mulder only nodded, but the concern was still written all over his face.

Shura smiled, remembering how Mu had commented that the agent seemed a bit territorial when it came to his partner. To Shura, though, it clearly went way beyond that.

"Are we far?" Mulder interrupted Shura's thoughts.

"No, about ten more minutes. Tired? Want to stop for a bit?"

Mulder was about to decline and push on, until something caught his eye downhill: the training arena.

Shura ran a hand through his hair, smiling. The Amazons were training their apprentices at that hour, and yeah, that always drew attention even from those who saw it every day.

"What's that down there?" Mulder asked, eyes fixed after a full minute of silence.

"That's the common arena. It's where we train."

"And what's going on there now? Those people... are they women?"

"Yes, they're Amazons." Shura stepped closer to the edge of the hill, bringing Mulder with him. "See better now? They're training future Saints. Someday, those boys will compete for Bronze Cloths."

"Oh..." Mulder was taken aback.

"If you want, we can go down and watch tomorrow. Today, I think you're too tired. And we still have to prepare the house for your stay. I imagine Miss Scully will be quite drained after the infirmary, right?"

"You're right. Let's keep moving. But I'd really like to see the arena tomorrow."

"Of course. Let's keep going, then."

xXx

At the infirmary, Scully watched as Aiolia prepared a blood collection tray.

She was impressed by how skilled the young man seemed – he looked far too young for that. Still, she couldn't help but feel uneasy at the absence of a doctor, which meant he would be the one taking her blood.

Aiolia returned with the tray in just a few minutes and immediately noticed her concern.

"Don't worry – it won't hurt at all," the Leo Saint said, smiling.

Scully sat frozen, watching him move quickly and precisely.

He found a good vein and began the blood draw with impressive ease. After a moment of watching the vial fill, she turned to him, still astonished.

"Wow..." she began. "I have to say – I'm really impressed. Where'd you learn to do that, Aiolia?"

"I've always liked science, even as a kid." Aiolia blushed slightly under the compliment. "I traveled a few times with the Goddess to Japan, and spent some time with the doctors at the Foundation when I wasn't on duty... so I picked up a few things here and there."

Scully was now genuinely surprised. She'd assumed he had some nursing training or maybe was in medical school. But he'd learned just by observing?

"Aiolia, that's... incredible. You're telling me you learned to do this just by watching doctors work?" Her eyes sparkled in awe.

"I guess you could say that. Eventually they started letting me help a little. It's not hard, you just need focus, and attention to detail. The human body is fascinating. How it works..." His eyes lit up as he spoke, clearly passionate.

"And after discovering that, I assume you've enrolled in university – medical school, maybe?" Scully asked, curious. There was no way he'd gotten that precise with only a few observations and limited practice... right?

"Actually... no." His face changed slightly. "But I really want to. Since I was a kid, I've always dreamed of becoming a doctor. Treating people. There are so many diseases that could be fought – or even cured – with just a bit more research..."

His eyes shone for a moment, then faded, replaced by a quiet kind of resignation. "But maybe one day I'll get to do that."

"Yes... that would be wonderful, Aiolia." Scully smiled warmly.

–You already are a doctor, and have been since you were a boy. You just don't know it yet.

She kept the thought to herself, sensing that this young man probably didn't have a normal life... and might never get to pursue that dream.

Which, to her, was heartbreaking.

TO BE CONTINUED...