(Untitled)

[gabriel_tam]

Vincent Navarro doesn't like hopeless situations. Especially when they're avoidable.

That is, it's avoidable in this case if someone can just find a way to break through Gabriel Tam's stubborn denial. He'd thought that after hearing the warning he'd issued in the strongest possible terms upon learning of Tam's travel intentions that the man would

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[simon_doctor]

He's not there when the message comes in.

A few hours later, he finds the wave. Reads it. Frowns at it.

Sends a return wave immediately, saying little more than at your convenience.

[walk_ins]

He's working late at his desk when his message center chimes.

Navarro's immediate reply offers several scheduling options, ranging from morning to evening Londinium local time and with the standard conversion factor included.

Almost as an afterthought, he adds his personal contact link.

[simon_doctor]

When Simon waves back, it's early afternoon, ship's time.

"Dr. Navarro," he says, not quite stiff but formal. "You asked for a consultation?"

[walk_ins]

"Dr. Tam," he replies, smiling. "Please, make it Vincent."

"I appreciate your quick response; I know you must be busy."

[simon_doctor]

"Méi guānxi," he says. "What can I do for you?"

[walk_ins]

"It's a bit of an unusual situation, I'm afraid."

In more ways than one, not the least of which is the reason for this particular conversation. Navarro reaches for a file which happens to be resting on one side of his desk and pulls it in front of him. He flips the folder open and glances down at the cover sheet.

"The patient is male, in his late fifties. He suffers from chronic compromised lung function due to traumatic injury and subsequent scarring which we've been unfortunately unable to repair. His condition at present is essentially stable--"

Navarro glances up from the file, meeting Simon's eyes.

"--but that's largely dependent on continuing adherence to his treatment regimen." A pause. "As long as he remains in this locale and under my care, that won't be a problem, but I'm afraid he's planning a rather extended trip."

[simon_doctor]

Simon's gaze darkens somewhat as he listens, but there's no particular surprise in his reaction -- at least, not until Navarro's last words.

"I see." Completely toneless. "Go on."

[walk_ins]

"As I understand it, he intends to visit locations on a number of the Border and Rim planets over the course of the next several months."

A beat. Although Navarro doesn't say it aloud, it's clear from the silent sympathy in his expression that he knows exactly what he's doing.

"I realize that this is somewhat of an unorthodox request, Dr. Tam. But I'm gravely concerned about the strain a trip such as this will place on my patient, and I was hoping that perhaps the opinion of someone with expertise such as yours might convince him to reconsider."

[simon_doctor]

His face doesn't change.

(you know that, right? that it shouldn't have been you?)

"I take it you've already spoken to your patient on the subject? Made the risks clear to him?"

[walk_ins]

"Dāngrán. We've discussed it at length."

He closes the file, and clasps his hands on top of it. Dryly, he adds,

"I expect we'll be doing so again shortly."

Navarro's perfectly well aware that Gabriel Tam will likely see this as overstepping his bounds as a physician to the point of outright interference.

[simon_doctor]

There's a flicker of a dry smile at that, there and gone in a blink. "It seems likely."

A beat, and he sobers. "If I'm to raise the issue with him, I'll need your assessment of just how severe the risks are."

Though he already has some idea, based solely on the fact that Dr. Navarro saw fit to contact him at all.

[walk_ins]

"Certainly

[simon_doctor]

He hears the word coming before it comes, the way he can frequently spot regularly used medical phrases such as finish the course or not to be taken internally.

It should lessen the shock, the cold clutch at his chest.

It doesn't.

He's silent for several seconds.

"And he's aware of this."

[walk_ins]

"He is."

Under the pretense that they're both keeping up of this being nothing more than a consultation between professionals, he shouldn't express sympathy, not when they're discussing his own patient.

It's there anyway, written in every weary line of his face, every nuance of how he's holding himself.

"I made sure that it was absolutely clear."

A pause, and he adds, quietly,

"He's a very determined man; an admirable quality, to be sure, but under these circumstances..."

Navarro shrugs.

[simon_doctor]

With effort, Simon maintains a level tone of voice, a calm face. A professional demeanor.

"And you think it might be beneficial for him to hear it from another source."

[walk_ins]

"I know you're not a pulmonologist, Dr. Tam, but your professional reputation is stellar -- and someone who's completed the portable imager training at Gage is almost certain to have enough practical knowledge of the resources available on the Border and Rim to be able to speak on the topic with some authority, and perhaps some influence as well."

Aside from the influence Simon has as Gabriel's son, that is.

"It might help. I don't know. But I had to try something."

By the time he finishes speaking, his frustration and very real worry are both clearly things he can no longer hide.