One Tired Doctor (open)

[hank]

To say that Hank was overworked would be an understatement. He came back from Tokyo to find that he had another patient to add to his collection. Isis was recovering slowly, Apocalypse (or En as Hank had come to call him), was very slowly recovering from his burns. Hank was more surprised then releived to see the leader of the Brotherhood recovering to the point where his wounds were beginning to heal on their own.

Kaia's blood work seemed to be showing little promise unfortunately. He had hoped the first attempt would subdue the poison in her blood to where she could control it, but ended up causing her to form acid that made him put in an order for another book. And now Tokra laid in the bed next to Isis, an iv hooked up to a sample of his own blood that Hank was having a hard time trying to copy. Add that to the amount of people coming in from the war room and it was a wonder that he was able to stand.

Hank sat down in his chair did his best to stay awake. A cup of coffee sat next to three others as he continued his work. But now that he had some time to be himself, and the coffee was wearing off, which proved it when his head dropped and so did his glasses. It wasn't long before the good doctor had worn himself to sleep.

[hazel]

Hazel and her husband Oliver had been out of state the past two weeks, so it was no wonder she didn't know about the pile up of patients. Of course, she knew Hank was back, actually she was quite relieved. No longer would she have to deal with all the students herself. But finally, she was back.

Upon her return, Hazel had found herself bombarded by students complaining about just about every ailment in the book, a few 'welcome backs' from those that didn't feel like testing her, and a pile up of paperwork on her desk.
"Home sweet home..."

She didn't spend much time on the ground floor. She wanted to go check on Hank, perhaps give him a hand since he had been doing all the work for a short time. She knew how draining the students could be after all.

Hazel wasn't prepared for the sight she saw.

Three patients in particular looked like they were on death's doorstep. Faith, Tokra, and... Apocalypse?! Another woman was there as well, not as bad as the others but not in the best shape to begin with. Not just that, there was a pile up of students waiting to get into the infirmary, none actually needing attention. Planting her hands on her hips she fixed the students with a stern look.
"Now look here. If you've only got a scratch you better scram. You should be ashamed of yourselves! You think you can pretend to get hurt in the danger room and then get out of class just because Mr.McCoy doesn't know you? Go on, get to class, all of you! If any of you come back with out any real injuries you'll have triple danger room sessions with Logan!"

That certainly brought up the crowd, every single one of the students scampering off as fast as they could. Satisfied, Hazel slowly looked towards Hank, her expression softening. "Jezz.... You should have just called me if you were this swamped." Of course, it was then she noticed he was asleep, or thought he was asleep.

[hank]

He was falling into a deep sleep when a sudden loud voice jolted him out of sleep. He didn't really know he had fallen asleep until the looked to him with a soft yet caring tone. After getting his glasses put on his face, he noticed it was Hazel, the other doctor he was hearing so much about. He didn't understand when she had shown up, and it was then he realized he had fallen asleep. Quickly he got up and straightened out his clothes, and used a small cloth in his pocket to wipe off his glasses.

"Good gracious, Hazel." He said, doing his best to compose himself, "Did I fall asleep? I'm terribly sorry."

He didn't know how long he was out, so he was quick to check on the four patients. Everything seemed to be in order, but he double checked just in case. When everything was in order, he turned and looked to Hazel, feeling disappointed in himself.

"Please forgive me, it's been a rough couple of days."

[hazel]

Hazel just smiled, taking a seat at one of the chairs by his desk.
"I assume you did." She paused. "It's nothing to apologize for. You can't imagine how many times I've fallen asleep on the job."

She watched him carefully as he checked each of his patients, making a list in her head in case she needed to help him. And if she was right, she probably would need to help him soon.
"I know what you mean. Did you know you had about a dozen students at your door when I got here? Good God, Hank. You need to learn to tell them no. They'll just keep trying to use you as an excuse to get out of class until they learn you won't take any crap from them." Hazel paused for a moment. "Though with four critical care patients.. I can understand why. What on Earth happened? And why is he here?" She jabbed a finger towards Apocalypse. Normally she would have been on guard with one of the most powerful mutants only a few feet away, but when she saw what sort of shape he was in...

[hank]

"Don't get me wrong, Hazel, I make sure to keep the students playing hooky away."

He moved from bed to bed, checking the charts and began explaining the situation with each of his patients to Hazel. He figured a fellow doctor will be able to understand the situations. The bandages on Tokra's shoulder were beginning to bleed through, so he went over and began working on replacing them.

"Hazel, could you give me a hand with his left shoulder? I have his right." He asked, then began explaining the patients, "Jubilee and Faolan found our young friend here in the woods. Something, or someone attacked him. Probably with the purpose of leaving him for , but we won't be sure until he wakes up."

He then walked over to Faith and began cleaning more of her wounds as well. He adjusted the machine she was hooked up to that kept her alive for the most part. "Faith was dropping us off in the ruins of Tokyo to help the survivors. The sentinels attacked and shot the jet down. From what Logan said she crashed it into one of the Sentinels attacking Tokyo. It's a miracle she was still breathing."

He then walked over to Isis, the only patient who didn't need any more help. He took the I.V. out of her arm and placed a ball of cotton and a bandaid to cover where the needle went in. "Isis, as she's called, carried Apocalypse in here, or as she calls him, En Sabah Nur. Don't refer to him as Apocalypse when she awakens. All she needs now though is rest."

He then walked over to Apocalypse, who was still badly burned, but recovering very slowly. The monitor above him showed that his vitals were stable and his heart was beating normally. "As for our guest, Ian and Isis, helped bring him in here. I was against it, but Ian insisted on helping him." Hank smiled a little, "He even caught me on the primary rule of being a doctor."

[hazel]

Hazel laughed, shaking her head. "I could see that. But we can't treat all of their injuries. They are being taught how to handle their own if they can't get help, so it's good to let them handle most things."

She was already on her feet when Hank asked, snatching up a fresh roll of bandages. She made quick work of the bandage, having spent many years practicing on students. Fresh bandage done, she crumbled up the soiled linen, tossing it into a basket. All the while she listened to what Hank said, her eyebrows furrowed together. "That's.... horrifying knowing that he was attacked so close to the school. Whether it was just him that was targeted, or if whatever did this plans on attacking other students... We'll need the forest thoroughly searched as a precaution."

With out being asked, she followed and assisted with Faith as well, her lips pursed together as she listened to how Faith had near killed herself. "If I didn't see Faith right now, I probably wouldn't have believed you. She rarely goes to serve on missions." She paused momentarily. "More then a miracle. I assume you did what you could on the scene? I doubt she'd be alive if you hadn't been there."

On to the next patient- or not. This Isis must have been suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and starvation. At this point she looked better then what she had, but still showed signs of the combination. Silently she brought her hand up to her face, biting on one of her nails as she thought. "En Sabah Nur?" She paused. "Does the Professor know he's here? He might be able to piece this together." Another pause. "But this woman carried him? By herself?" Her frown deepened. "I've never seen such devotion towards Apocalypse. What makes her different...?"

Hazel smiled softly when he spoke of Ian again. "Ian certainly can be a force to recon with when he wants to be. I'm sure one day he'll change the world because of it."

[hank]

"Indeed, doctors won't be around forever. Everything has it's beginning and ending I suppose."

He was more than a little greatful when she immediately got up and helped with Tokra. Things were becoming easier even when she began helping with the others, even though he didn't ask. He was glad to have another doctor around, and couldn't help but wonder if Hazel had to go through the same thing when she was alone. When she commented on Tokra and investigating the forest, he shook his head.

"It's no use. Logan went out there with Faolan after he brought Tokra inside. He said neither of them could pick up any scent of the boys attacker."

When she commented on Faith, he couldn't help a small twitch in his eye. He remembered what happened as if it was now. He could still feel himself being hit by the sentinels blast, then waking up to see Ian standing near him with Meav. The trip to the city and seein Faith wasn't a memory he liked having.

"Yes, I did what I could. If it wasn't for April, Faith wouldn't be lieing here right now."

They then came to Isis and he couldn't help but agree with Hazel. The kind of devotion this girl had for Apocalypse was amazing. He looked to Hazel when she asked if the girl carried Apocalypse by herself.

"Yes, her devotion to this man was strong enough to bring him all the way from Alaska, according to what Crystal said."

His smile widened when she talked of Ian. Yes it seemed for a boy who just followed Rose into the school, he had become the strength for not only Rose, but a few others as well. Hank wondered if there was a reason other than Rose that lead him here. Perhaps it was something not even he could understand.

"Yes, it seems that he is proving himself in more ways then one. I'll have to speak to Logan more about it. Ian came by telling me that everything in Tokyo was well and the girl that Cain held was safe. We may have an X-Man on our hands. His usefulness around the infirmary and care for others is beyond even me."

[hazel]

Hazel blinked, as if surprised he would think doctors wouldn't be around forever. A few seconds later, she smiled softly. "There will always be doctors in some form or another. Only in a world with no ailment or pain would doctors cease to exist." She paused momentarily. "There may become a lesser need for doctors, but those in the field can only do so much." It was a humbling thought that there might become less need for her and Hank in the future. Finally her smile warmed. "But as long as we have hard headed students, I doubt either of us will be out of the job."

Patients looked over, Hazel took a seat near his desk, crossing her legs as she leaned back into it. "And there have been no further attacks? That would suggest that whatever attacked the boy was targeting him specifically." She paused, pursing her lips. "Why would someone or something target him alone?" Another pause. "Well, whatever it was, it certainly is a brave, or psychotic soul... So close to the school.. It sounds like it wouldn't have made a difference if Tokra had been inside the school at the time. It was out for his blood alone."

[hank]

"Ah...a day with no stubborn students and few doctors. How pleasant."

He laughed a little, glad that Hazel was back. His smile faded when she commented on Tokra's attacker. Why would someone be so dark and cruel to come and attack one boy and risk being seen by a whole school. It wasn't until he started hearing mumbling coming from Tokra's bed. The mumbling grew into loud shouts of "Monster!", "My family!" and "I'll kill you!".

"Good lord not again." Hank said, moving quickly to Tokra's bed, "Hazel quick, get a sedative. He's going into shock again!"

[hazel]

Hazel grinned, laughing herself. “A vacation we would all be very happy about.” When she heard Tokra, she just about leaped to her feet. “I’m guessing he’s already done this before?” She was already at work, rushing to the cabinet they kept the Sedatives. Quickly she prepared one, choosing something a little stronger than most would use. Hazel knew though, that if he’d already gone through other Sedatives before now, he would need something stronger.

Shot prepared, she was quickly at the bedside, handing the needle to Hank. It was his patient, and she was only the assistant here. As Hank handled the rest, she lightly bit her bottom lip as she pondered over Tokra’s words.
“If I didn’t know better… Tokra knew his attacker… And this attacker has provoked him in the past…” She paused. “Do you have a copy of his files? Perhaps there are some clues in there.”

[hank]

"Yes, it's happened before." he said, wiping his brow as Tokra began to settle, "Ever since the wounds healed he's been doing this."

When Hazel mentioned that Tokra had some link to his attacker, Hank looked at her in disbeleif. How could he have missed it? All those times Tokra's been saying words and it never clicked. Was Tokra linked to his attacker somehow? Maybe unfinished business? Hank didn't respond to Hazel, just quickly made his way to a nearby computer, put on his glasses and began looking through the files until he found Tokra's name.

"Here we are. Wanderer...recent entry into the mansion...member of the runaways. Runaways?" He stopped a minute before looking on, "Ah! Here we are. Young mutant accused of killing parents. Couple found dead in home, Tokra Genji trialed and banished from town."

[hazel]

Hazel followed him as he retreated to his desk, leaning on the desk as he accessed the computer. When he mentioned the runaways, she blinked. “Runaways as in the bunch of kids up in Canada?” Hazel didn’t know much about the Runaways, only that the Professor had helped a few of them from time to time. When she continued though, a little color drained from her skin.

“So he was framed? Whoever attacked him must be the real murderer….” She sat back in the chair she had officially ‘claimed’, leaning on one of the arms. “And whoever did it is trying to finish what he started…” Hazel sighed. “Well, that’s one theory anyway… Though probably the most likely.”

[tokra]

"I've heard very little about the Runaways," Hank said, "only that Xavier and the X-Men have helped them. Tokra seemed to have been a part of them, as well as Ayden."

When Hazel mentioned the attacker, and Tokra's link to him, Hank looked at her with a look that only said he was agreeing with her. Whatever or who ever had attacked Tokra also framed him for the murder of his parents. But how?

"Indeed, and the only one who can answer that, might not wake up for some time." He said, looking over to Tokra who's head still moved from side to side, mumbling every now and then.

If Ayden, Xavier or anybody with the power to look into a mans mind, looked into his, they would find nothing but blackness. Blackness that Tokra stood in the middle of. Tokra was running towards a shadowed figure, and on his way he would see images of Cain, his mom, his dad and his town. The broken bodies of his parents, the leering accusations of his friends. All the while the echo of Cain's laughter coming from almost everywhere. When the voice laughed, Tokra would charge. He didn't care how long it would take, but he was going to get revenge for his parents.

[hazel]

Hazel smiled softly. "Same. People don't seem to keen to sharing information about them." Why it was like that, she wished she knew. The group was shadowed, little more then their name known. "Perhaps someone should try to make contact with them. See if they knew anything."

She paused when Hank spoke, slowly turning to gaze at Tokra's fidgeting form. "Such distress..." She smiled sadly, shaking her head. "I hate it more then anything when the injuries you want to heal are out of reach..." A sort pause. "It's up to Tokra, if those scars can heal. If he can pull through, then he will be a better man then he was before. And if he can't, I fear he may be lost forever."

[hank]

"Perhaps we can, but only Xavier or Ayden can find them. Unfortunately, both April and Ayden are missing."

He sighed as he thought about all of this. A dangerous villain on the loose, the leader of the brotherhood and Tokra beaten to near death and lieing close to it. Now April and Ayden are missing and nobody knows how. Rumor has it that Mystique had something to do with it. When Hazel mentioned Tokra becoming stronger, his look became worried.

"I may be a doctor, Hazel, but I'm also a good psychiatrist." He looked from her to Tokra, "Tokra's young, and obviously struggling. If he were to come out of this, my guess is he will be more dangerous to himself then helpful. He may go looking for the killer."