Posts: 8,901
Threads: 747
Joined: Aug 2008
Staff roles: Moderator
His medical bag in hand and Elena not more than a few steps away, they made there way to a school. Doc often found this a good environment to give kids routine exams without raising suspicions.
"When kids aren't in a doctor's office, they tend to be more relaxed and lose the fear of a doctor," he explained. "Also, teachers know the students and if they see something that I should pay extra attention to, they let me know without raising suspicions of children."
When they entered, it only took one student to see Dr. Holliday walking in to go excited.
"It's Doctor Holliday!" they would yell and just about everyone would come running.
For anyone watching, it was pure joy. Doc's face lit up like the sun and he hugged as many as he could. The ones he didn't know, the newest arrivals since his last visit, were the ones he tried to speak with first. One boy, about seven years old, stood next to the kneeling doctor.
"What is your name, Son?" Doc asked him.
"Simon," he said sheepishly.
The boy went silent for a moment as he noticed the doctor's bag and then looked back at Doc. He wasn't smiling and seemed nervous. He then pointed at the bag and asked, "Doctor, are you going to stick me with a needle too?"
Doc looked puzzled as he repeated those words out loud to himself, "...stick me with a needle too?...."
The teacher noticed as well and motioned her head to a separate room to where Doc took the boy.
"Let me see your arm, Simon," he asked. He shook his head.
"Simon, I can't help you if you won't let me," Doc replied with kind assurance.
"I'm scared," the boy said.
"That's OK," answered Doc, "I promise I won't hurt you."
It was then the boy pulled removed his shirt. Needle marks were all over his arms. Doc was appalled and visibly disgusted.
"Simon, who is doing this to you?" he asked.
A tear started falling down his face. "M...m...my......mother. Ever since Dad died, she's been getting angry. I don't go home. If I don't go home, she doesn't hurt me."
Doc hugged him gently, "It's OK, Son. I'm going to fix it." He then ran a scan of his internals. "No cardamine and no stabiline thank goodness. For now, put your shirt back on and go back to your classmates. I will fix this later." The boy did as instructed while Doc shook his head, trying to control his rage which he finally did after a few minutes.
He returned to the class only to get mobbed again. At the same time, a young girl approached Elena. "Are you a doctor too?" She was intrigued by the stranger.
