Colin #4
“Mmm, doesn’t sound like you’re all that used to it.”
“I’m used to it, just irritated.”
“The things you aren’t irritated by is probably a far easier list to compile.”
He snorted. “Probably. Come on.”
Xander took me around the science building, and I could see another, smaller one on the other side.
It wasn’t much bigger than a single-room cabin, probably two rooms, three if one of them was small.
Xander unlocked the door and pushed through with me hot on his heels.
The lights flickered to life with an unpleasant buzz, and I realized I was looking at a small examination room.
There was the exam table, cabinets that held who knew what, a desk in one corner with a computer that looked like it was new a decade ago.
There were two more doors, one of which was open, and through the light from the main room, I could see a small bathroom.
The other door was closed, and it was the only door I’d seen on the property that was not only metal but had two locks.
“Here,” he said, reaching into his pockets and drawing out a ring of keys that he dropped into my palm, as if he were afraid to brush my skin with his.
“Those are for this entire building, and the silver one with a green cover is for a storage room in the basement of the main building. That big golden one and the smaller silver one next to it are for this locked door. The records for everyone assigned here, even if they’re not working the current season, are in there as well as on the computer system.
We haven’t got a login for you yet, so you’ll be paper-bound for a bit. ”
“Figures,” I said with a sigh. “Thank God they offered for me to buy my own laptop; that thing looks as old as you.”
His eyes snapped to me with a growl. “I’m not old.”
I laughed. “But in computer years, you’re ancient.”
He rolled his eyes. “That door is where the controlled shit is. I hope you know how to handle that.”
“First time I’ve ever been the only person in control of it, but yeah, we’re on familiar terms,” I admitted, using the keys to open the door and flip on the light.
There was a cabinet with another lock that I assumed was where the controlled meds were, a couple of filing cabinets and, to my amusement, a mini-fridge and an ancient-looking collection of snacks in a box.
“Right, well, this is your base of operations when necessary. You know the drill: basic exams, vaccinations or whatever when we need them, medical visits by us, triage…all that you’re allowed to do.”
“I got ya,” I said as I moved to the corner and eyed the stack of folders on the counter.
The names on the tabs told me they were all for the men stationed at the outpost currently, including the two unknowns, whose names I could see were Maverick and Carter.
There was Cait’s folder, but it was Xander’s folder I plucked from the pile and looked over. “Huh…interesting.”
He scowled when he saw what I was looking at. “You can do that on your own time; you need—”
“To do a basic exam,” I said with a laugh, eyeing the date. “I’m dying to know how you got away with not one, not two, but four years of not having a physical. Pull some strings?”
He sighed. “Of course you’d notice that.”
“I also note that you’re on blood pressure medication that strangely doesn’t get filled as often as it should,” I said with a smirk, closing the folder. “Almost like it doesn’t need to be refilled all that often because someone isn’t taking their meds like they’re supposed to.”
“As I told Cait, you’re not my mother.”
“No, but right now? Here? I’m your medic.”
“And I’m your boss.”
I smiled, and I wasn’t so pure and good as not to enjoy the uneasy look on his face at my grin.
“Which, when it matters, is what’ll count.
But in here? When it comes to your health?
You're my bitch. So, you can either agree to have a quick, noninvasive check over, and then convincingly lie to my face about following the advice I give you or…I could make it known that you’re not following policy, including not taking the medication that could save you from a heart attack in the middle of a rescue. ”
“Are you fucking threatening me?” he asked, drawing up to his full height.
“Why yes, yes I am,” I said, closing the folder and turning to smile at him. “I mean, you could also say I’m blackmailing you, which would be technically correct. But I like to think of this as an intense negotiation to reach a compromise that will make both of us happy.”
“A compromise where you get what you want, you mean.”
“And you get to keep your nose clean, so we both benefit.”
I wondered if he was going to keep pushing the issue as he stared at me before letting out a huff. “Just an exam?”
“Quick, easy, something to jot down for my notes so I know I’m working with…you know, current information.”
His jaw tightened. “Fine…right now?”
“Eh, we’ll give it a couple of days,” I said with a wave of the folder. “I need to get settled in and sort through things, make this place…mine. And hopefully get access to the digital files because as nice as it can be to deal with the classics, I’m not a fan of pen and paper for record keeping.”
His jaw relaxed, and I thought it was funny that this grown man was so goddamn worried about a barely noticeable medical exam. Sheesh, next I was going to find out he was nervous around needles. “And uh…any shots?”
I should have known.
“I’ll let you know,” I said in amusement. “And I’ll let you know when you need to come see me too.”
“Fine,” he muttered, rubbing his chin. “If there’s anything missing or you need more, you’ll have to let me know until we can get you into the system. And, yeah, welcome to the group.”
He sounded sullen, but sullen was better than stubborn, so I smiled. “I’d say glad to be here, but uh, I’m going to figure out what I’m working with…or not working with before I make that kind of assessment.”
Xander snorted. “Have fun with that. I’ll leave you to it. There’s a sheet with phone numbers on the desk, and an intercom if you need direct contact with me or Cait. There are labels on the system and, uh…yeah.”
I watched him as he awkwardly shifted his weight before grunting and walking away, leaving me to call after him. “I’ll let you know when I need you in here.”
His muttering was incomprehensible, but the tone made me chuckle as I turned and looked around, wondering how much of my work was cut out for me.