Just a Twinge?

Writers: Aaron, AL
Date Posted: 31st December 2024

Characters: Brennault, Vandor
Description: Brennault thinks he tweaked his hamstring. Running, of course. What were you thinking?
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 24 of Turn 12

Brennault

Vandor

It was just a little twinge. Just a bit of a tweak. But Brennault knew that leaving these things to chance was a good way to find out you managed to make it worse and be out of commission for weeks.

When at last it was his turn, he explained himself to the Healer. He was rather good-looking, wasn't he?

“I think I gave it a bit of a strain on the trail,” he explained. “I don't think it's serious, but I didn't want to risk it.”

Vandor’s eyes appraised the man as they did each and every patient that walked through the door. From the way he walked, the healer could tell he’d done something to his leg some where. Tiny motions in the pace and step coupled with the angle at which one held the torso were rather revealing. While he couldn’t diagnose by a simple observation, he could at least determine that the injury lay somewhere in the upper leg rather than the lower. “I see. Shall I help you?” The big man extended an hand, ready to become a moving pillar against which the injured rider could lean if needed.

“Oh… fire, I wish you would.” Brennault tried not to let his inner thoughts show _too_ obviously. But he certainly wished the Healer would help him. In several ways. He grinned. He could not help but grin.

For someone who was in pain, the man was certainly dealing with it admirably. Settling alongside him, Vandor found it easier to slid his arm around Brennault’s shoulders and allow the man to lean against him rather than try to duck down under his arm. Doing so would mean he’d literally bend over and at that point, it would not only be awkward, but would likely mean less support for the injured. “All right, let’s get to a room so I can tend to that injury.”

Brennault’s heart raced. This was like the start to one of those smutty books! He was not sure he needed the support, but it was certainly very nice to have. And who was he to argue with a Healer?

“I’m sure it's just a tweak,” he said. He expected to be ordered to rest for a few days. Nothing too serious. But there was always the possibility it was worse than he thought…

If he ended up under this particular Healer’s care, that would be fine with him.

Taking a careful pace, Vandor escorted Brennault to the closest room available and got him up on the examination table. Turning, he pulled the curtain across to allow for some privacy, then focused on the leg that obviously pained the man. “All right, tell me what happened. You said you strained it on the trail, but how? And where do you feel the pain?”

“Oh, I was just running like usual… There was probably a dip in the trail or something I didn't notice,” said Brennault. “It's right here.” He moved his hand up and down the back of his thigh. “I'm usually pretty good about it, but. Nobody's perfect.”

“Hm. If you’re comfortable, I’d like you to remove your pants. I’ll need to take a look and ask you to do some things to isolate the injury.” Turning, he took a small cloth and offered it to the man. “Leave your undergarments on, but if you feel the need, you can cover yourself with that.” Most in the Weyr didn’t, but he was also aware that a number of people came from Crafter Halls and Holds. While they would eventually have to get used to how things were at the Weyr, he personally always gave the option. Afterward, Vandor motioned toward the curtain that separated the area from public viewing. “I can step out a second if you prefer.”

“Heh, you're fine. But I appreciate the concern.” Brennault had very rarely ever refused when someone told him to take his pants off, and this was no exception. He set the modesty cloth aside, removed his pants, folded them quickly, and set them aside.

“All right, if you’ll turn over, I’m going to go through a couple of things. I need you to tell me if it hurts and where it hurts.” Vandor’s trained eye sought out the injured area of the leg indicated, but he didn’t see any bruising. Truthfully, if the injury was that recent, bruising wouldn’t show up quite yet. “I’m also going to feel for swelling.”

Brennault laid down on his front and relaxed. He had some fair amount of experience with that, too.

“Feel away!” he said.

Vandor examined the injured leg with a critical eye. Then, carefully so as not to cause more pain than was necessary - for moving an injury would undoubtedly cause some discomfort - he set about guiding the man in a series of slow movements that allowed to see what triggered the pain the most and how his leg looked as he did so.

Fortunately, the injury wasn’t as bad as it could be, and likely hurt worse than it actually was. “A mild strain, nothing life ending, but certainly something that needs to be taken care of.”

Brennault frowned. He had hoped it would be something that took care of itself.

“How long will it take?” he asked. He had been planning to stick around the Weyr for a little while anyway, but he absolutely hated not having the option to take off on a whim if the wind moved him.

“I suggest you keep off of it as much as you can for a sevenday. When you are sitting, elevate it. Also, keep a compression wrap on the leg as well, then come back and let’s evaluate things.” Vandor knew it might not be completely healed, but it would give him a good idea as to how far the man needed to go with treatment. “There’s some inflammation, so we want to make sure that doesn’t get worse and eventually goes away. If the pain does get worse, though, come back and see me right away. If you’ll give me a moment, I’ll go ahead and get a compression wrap on it.”

That was not so bad. It could have been worse. Brennault suspected this might make some of his… leisure activities a little more precarious, though.

“I've got all the time in the world. At least a week.”

“Well then, it’s fortunate it happened now, and not later. I’ll be but a moment. I’ll go ahead and wrap your leg before you leave.” With that, Vandor left the man upon the table, though he worked as quickly as he could in order not to keep his patient waiting. A few minutes later, he returned, wrap in hand. “Are you not a permanent resident of the Weyr?” He inquired, picking up the conversation even as he reached for the leg.

“Officially, yes, but practically, I live on the road much of the time,” said Brennault. “This is my home base, though.”

“Ah, now that I understand. I travelled as a Journeyman up North for a while. Dolphin Cove is, of course, my home base, as you phrased it.” Vandor hoped he would return to the Weyr at one point and was quite glad he had been allowed to. Now he was back where he felt he belong. Carefully winding the wrap around the leg, Vandor pulled it where it was tight enough to compress, but not so tight as to cut off circulation. Hopefully, the patient would find that it provided some measure of relief. After encircling the leg a few times and securing the wrap, he stepped back. “There you go. Why don’t you put some weight on it. It may feel a bit funny at first.”

Brennault was almost sad the wrapping part was over. He swung himself sideways and lowered his back half to the ground, then stood. He gingerly leaned on the injured leg.

“That does feel better.” He smiled.

“That doesn’t mean you can go dancing or anything.” Vandor cautioned as he stepped back to give the man some more space. “You’ll still need to take it easy, or you’re likely to make things worse. Now, I’ll give you a wrap to change into on your own. Do you know how to do a compression wrap?“ It wasn’t hard, but if one had never done it before, he couldn’t expect them to know how.

“Would you mind showing me?” Brennault grinned. He would take any excuse to hang around him longer, but truth be told, he had learned how to do them as a part of his runner training. Still, it was much easier to have someone else do yours than to do it yourself…

“Certainly. Let me get more cloth, and we can use your other leg.” Once again, the healer stepped out of the room, but returned quickly with, as promised, another cloth. Rather than demonstrate, however, he handed the fabric to the man. “You’ll want to keep your leg in a neutral position and start further down then work your way up.”

“Like this?” Brennault put the bandage on as he had been instructed, and having done it before, he did a decent job.

As Vandor watched, he crossed his arms, keeping a critical eye on the work of the man. Chuckling softly, he eyed him with some humour. “You seem to have a knack for this.”

“Why, thank you.” Brennault offered him a charming smile. “I learned from the best.”

From the way he went at it, Vandor very much doubted that, but he kept his thoughts to himself. After making sure he had it down, the healer nodded. “And that’s it. If you need anything before the sevenday is out, please come to the infirmary. Otherwise…well, I’ll see you then.”

“Have you got any dinner plans?” Brennault smiled his best charming smile. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

“I’ll be eating in the dining hall, like everyone else.” Vandor shrugged. That was the usual course of the day. Breakfast in the dining hall, work, lunch in the dining hall, work. Unless he was on a night shift, but generally, meals were in the dining hall unless he took something to go. However, he also recognise what Brennault was actually asking. “Now, if you’re looking for a date, I’m afraid I don’t swing that way. However, if you’d like some friendly company, I’m happy to have fellowship.”

“I love friendly company.” Brennault’s smile did not diminish. He was fully capable of having a platonic relationship! Even if he wanted to swing that way.

“Now that sounds like a plan. Meet me at the 7th candlemark?” Vandor had been approached by men in the past, but while he was never offended, he simply wasn’t attracted to them. Friendship, however, was always an options and he firmly believed that the more friends, the merrier.

“It’s a friendly appointment!” Brennault pronounced. “I’ll see you then. Thanks again for your expert care.”

Vandor nodded, grinning. “Any time.”

Last updated on the January 6th 2025

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Just a Twinge?