(Untitled)

[claire_fraser]

I didn't expect very much in the way of clinic traffic this evening. Usually when there was some sort of event going on, the islanders were surprisingly capable (at least, more capable than the populations with which I had dealt before) of keeping themselves out of trouble and fairly uninjured. At least, uninjured to an extent requiring medical

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[island_anne]

Anne didn't want to be a bother, truly she didn't. After all, she knew perfectly well what ailed her and she didn't think there was anything to be done about it. However she couldn't seem to quite discover how to remedy the nerves that had plagued her ever since discovering she had been nominated for the Island Council, and that continued even now that she learned she actually won herself a position.

And so it was with some hesitation that she poked her head into the clinic early in the evening, shortly after the celebration had begun.

[claire_fraser]

"Hello," I said, looking up from my book to see Anne Shirley, whom I recognised from the island council speeches. I thought for a moment that Brianna, if she were here, would be even happier to meet Anne Shirley than she would be to meet Susan Pevensie, as both series of books had been so dear to her when she was young.

Then I put on my best professional smile and came out from around the desk. She looked decidedly anxious, and I did my best to put her at ease. "I'm Dr Fraser," I said, introducing myself. "What can I do for you today?"

[island_anne]

"Well, I'm not entirely certain," admitted Anne, coming closer and taking a seat, as she thought was proper when visiting a physician. "It's just that I've been quite queasy with nerves, ever since the beginning of the election. And oh, I don't expect that you might do anything for that except perhaps prescribe some nice hot tea, but it seems to be persisting even now that the election is over. I do hope hope it subsides soon, but I don't suppose that anything might be done, or that you might know how long this might last? It seems to have gone on forever already."

[claire_fraser]

"Tea can't hurt, most of the time," I admitted, "but we might be able to find out what's really bothering you. First I'll need to take a medical history from you..." I went quickly to the files to see if Anne had a chart, and she did; so I took up a fresh sheet of paper to add to it. After getting her name and age and so forth, I asked, "Have you been sick at all before your case of nerves came on? Fever, chills, or anything of that sort?"

[thefairone]

There are somethings that had become ritualised, things such as always having dirt under her fingernails, another being the fact that the gentle cracking of careful dried plants under her fingers was most comforting. She was grateful that for the most part, the endless tired and other funny, yet cruel things had faded away, but still she felt very little desire to pass near the party. Not yet at least.

She wandered into the clinic, smile on her face, and herbs hanging carefully from her bag in neatly done bunches. "Evening, Doctor Claire, how're ye?" she inquired pleasantly.

[claire_fraser]

"I'm well enough," I said, looking up from my book. "How are you?" I couldn't help but smile as I added, "Ian's told me your good news - congratulations." I was perhaps happier about this than I had any business being, but then again I had always had a soft heart when it came to babies.

[thefairone]

"Has he now?" Isolde inquired with an equal smile, blushing just a bit. It was still strange to talk about it, to consider it even. "Only good things, I hope. It was quite the way he was told." She moved closer, coming to rest at the edge of the place the Doctor Claire was seated.

"'M doing fine, as well as can be expected I suppose."

[claire_fraser]

"Only good things, I promise," I assured her. "I'm glad to hear you're doing well. You know that if you need anything at all - advice, questions answered, anything at all - you can of course come to me." If Jenny were here, she would do the same for her, and probably more; the prospect of Ian as a father would please her so. The thought made me miss her, a sharp, unexpected pang.

[jim_halpert]

Jim wasn't sure who would be around, especially with the party going on. It was around the time Claire had her clinic duty, though, and he wandered away from the party to peek in to see if she was around. When he saw Claire inside, he went inside, hands sliding into his pockets.

"Evening," he greeted with a sheepish smile.

[claire_fraser]

"Hello, Jim," I said, looking up with a smile. "Not out enjoying the party?" I had thought perhaps he might wish to celebrate the end of his council term, as it would give him a great deal more time to spend with the soon-to-be new member of the family.

[jim_halpert]

"Just came from it," he replied, leaning against a counter near her desk. "I was hoping to catch you before your clinic hours were over. You have a minute for a question?"

[claire_fraser]

"Of course," I replied. I put a marker in my book and closed it, giving Jim my full attention. "Is something wrong?"