Master and Commander ficlet: Jack/Stephen
"Jack! A little more care if you please, you have the hands of a blacksmith!"
"Or a post-captain."
" - I concede your point, but I still bid you be a little more gentle with me, joy."
"You're sure you don't need attention, Stephen? There's nothing pressing that won't allow us to go somewhere with surgeons - "
"That they might whip off my leg, I suppose? Your sudden trust in surgeons surprises me, and I wonder that you don't consider me capable of prescribing my own treatment."
"You're sure you needn't be bled, or operated on? The blow to your head - "
"Means I have barely enough for myself, and I shan't have the leeches fattening themselves at my loss. Stop fussing, Jack."
"You looked to have done yourself in."
"But I hadn't. The head always bleeds more than it ought."
"But you looked to have done yourself in, and I couldn't - I shouldn't like it if that happened. I'd count it as a favour if you wouldn't, Stephen, for I don't think I could be doing without you."
"You speak as though I don't think the same, every time you must join your impossible, idiotic battles.
You needn't answer that. Tie it a little tighter, Jack, if you would."
"My place is on deck, with the men."
"Then you have no place sending me from your side. Not until duty calls."
"Stephen - "
"Don't, Jack."
"But - "
"You needn't; I understand.
You'd never make a surgeon, my dear. Your hands tremble."
"Or a post-captain."
" - I concede your point, but I still bid you be a little more gentle with me, joy."
"You're sure you don't need attention, Stephen? There's nothing pressing that won't allow us to go somewhere with surgeons - "
"That they might whip off my leg, I suppose? Your sudden trust in surgeons surprises me, and I wonder that you don't consider me capable of prescribing my own treatment."
"You're sure you needn't be bled, or operated on? The blow to your head - "
"Means I have barely enough for myself, and I shan't have the leeches fattening themselves at my loss. Stop fussing, Jack."
"You looked to have done yourself in."
"But I hadn't. The head always bleeds more than it ought."
"But you looked to have done yourself in, and I couldn't - I shouldn't like it if that happened. I'd count it as a favour if you wouldn't, Stephen, for I don't think I could be doing without you."
"You speak as though I don't think the same, every time you must join your impossible, idiotic battles.
You needn't answer that. Tie it a little tighter, Jack, if you would."
"My place is on deck, with the men."
"Then you have no place sending me from your side. Not until duty calls."
"Stephen - "
"Don't, Jack."
"But - "
"You needn't; I understand.
You'd never make a surgeon, my dear. Your hands tremble."