dangerous games

[thedoctordances]

After a day or two of nursing a hangover, and several days of writing up the patient care plan for Glitch, and another day or two of attempted woodworking, Dr. Beverly Crusher had had it with the tropics. It was at least something that she hadn't ended up sanding her hand off--she was used to places with limited economies, but there was always a

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[heartliketin]

Cain had rested for just about as damn long as he could possibly rest before he needed a stretch of his legs. The sweats had stopped a while back and Gene had done a damn good job repairing the damage, even it had taken longer than he wanted. Cain had found himself a replacement button-down while the other sat to be mended and it was then that he found the Doc.

One arm hung a little limper than the other, but not noticeably so. "Not bad," he appraised.

[thedoctordances]

Beverly gave Cain a bit of a smile. "Thanks, Cain," she said. "I'm out of practice. Back on ship I did this kind of thing once every fortnight, but now..." She shrugged. "After all those things I heard about dinosaurs, I'd rather not be rusty."

[heartliketin]

"I don't think they're meant to be in the habit of sneaking into our rooms at night," he noted, leaning against the nearest hard surface just casually. "That all you're preparing for?"

[thedoctordances]

"That and anything else dangerous, all things considered," Beverly said. "Why? I'd think you'd be all for being prepared. Very Boy Scout."

God, and Cain was one hell of a Boy Scout.

[heartliketin]

"Preparation's good and all, but it seems to me you've already got the...skills," he managed, only faltering the once and passing it off by studying the mangoes all lined up like his fellow Tin Men had been in Central during the last stand.

Gods, the pain was bad. It was a miracle he was on his own two feet. It was right then that Cain wished, for a brief moment, that he had Raw there rather than Glitch.

[thedoctordances]

That was about the time when Beverly figured something was up. She turned and gave Cain a bit of a curious look, then turned and shot the hell out of the nearest mango. "The skills," she said. "What do you mean?"

[heartliketin]

"Just mean that you aren't missing. Looks like the practice is just extra." And that was all he said on the subject. "How's things for Glitch coming?"

[thedoctordances]

"Maybe it is. Maybe it's fun," Beverly allowed, and zapped the next mango with a stream of light. "They're almost done. I should have them ready to present to him next week, provided the bookshelf cooperates a few more times."

[heartliketin]

"Good," Cain sighed with relief at that, closing his eyes and making a note to tell that to Glitch a couple of times until it sank in. "You'll probably have to tell him about three or four times, just so it catches."

[thedoctordances]

"Is he having trouble again?" Beverly asked, frowning slightly in thought and putting the phaser down at her side. "Or any difference at all? Or is this normal?"

[heartliketin]

"He's been glitching pretty hard ever since the ball," Cain admitted, pushing himself off the tree lightly. "Likely because Ambrose made a fairly lengthy appearance."

[thedoctordances]

Beverly took a moment to consider it, then sat down on a fallen log. "Definitely overcompensating. Have you been handling it all right? Has he been too frustrated with himself?"

[heartliketin]

"I've been f-fine," Cain promised, forcing a tense smile at that. "Every time I see Ambrose, seems he's more upset than the last time and I want to make it better. But I can't. So he glitches and forgets me and wanders around t'il sunrise before stumbling back."

"And he usually doesn't remember long enough to be frustrated."

[thedoctordances]

The stammer definitely caught Beverly's notice. Even when upset, she'd never heard that from him. "It's hard on both of you, then," she said, though she was appraising him even more closely now. "Have you tried playing along with it?"

[heartliketin]

"Occasionally, but I don't like lying to him," Cain said, purely honest. He didn't like lying much on the whole, but he would do it when necessary.

[thedoctordances]

"I know. I don't like lying either, but in this case it might be necessary just to get him to calm down, because I don't think he'll improve if he doesn't get some rest."