[Daniel Hedge]

Mr. Legge protested as he grudgingly removed his shirt so Daniel could have a better look at the wound. He was, of course, an officer and had duties to attend to so the doctor wasn't at all surprised to hear frustration in the man's voice.

The wound, however, rather surprised him. It was quite clean and had been healing up just fine, as the lieutenant said. If there hadn't been any agitation, it wouldn't have even left too big of a scar. His diagnostic coming to a conclusion, Daniel decided that he only need help the blood to clot and the man could be on his way.

As he set out the flour he used for such things, a question came to his lips for the lieutenant. "Who was it that patched you up the first time?" It certainly was a much better job than Hendrik, so he had doubts that he had helped Mr. Legge. Was it Costa? If so then Daniel may have a talk with the Captain later about having the lad in the sickbay to help more often. He certainly seemed to know some of what he was doing and Daniel preferred his help to that of Locke's or Hendrik's. Locke would be leaving soon anyhow.

[Marina Costa]

The doctor praised her for being quickly back, and she was asked to hold the flame steady for him to pass the knife through it. She had seen it done before and she knew what it was for, so she assumed the needed position of a surgery assistant afterwards, having everything handy for Doctor Hedge until he finished cleaning the wound and bandaging it again. She still kept an eye for what the doctor was doing, especially with the turpentine, because she was well aware that the small ships in the Mediterranean would never have a doctor aboard, and that people would die if nobody among the crew knew what to do in various situations. Everything she could learn here with the Navy would be of great use some day.

To her surprise again, the doctor recommended to the sailing master both her tea and a cup of water every bell. She didn’t understand anything anymore, given his stance a few hours before, but she liked being appreciated.

“I’ll take care he gets the water too, Sir!” she answered promptly. “I’ll be around for a while anyway…

Mr Moore tried again, with the same result, to escape her tea, but this time the doctor was the one to insist on it:

"You'll have the tea, but perhaps Costa could rally a bit of sugar from the cook?"

”The sugar put in the bitter tea would make for an even more insufferable taste, but if you drink the tea you will get a lump of sugar afterwards, in order to have the sweetness linger,” she explained.

She threw the doctor a questioning glance, if he needed her for Mr. Legge too, but it seemed he didn’t. He preferred her to come quickly with the tea and the sugar… God, how much patience she needed in order to ask Dickens so kindly for sugar for the wounded… even in the new doctor’s name! She hoped to convince him… Damn, there in the galley the man didn’t take any fight, at least he owed this to the ones who made a human shield for him to get unharmed!

So she had what to focus on without dwelling again on the reason why exactly Mr. Legge needed the doctor’s skills…

When she came back, steaming teapot in hand, the first lieutenant was already dressed back. She went again to Mr. Hardwick, helping him to drink the tea already brought, as this one, meant for Mr. Moore and the others, had to cool a little first.

[Graham Moore]

The doctor's words, though kind and well-meant, puzzled Graham. Good friend? Work on? His addled mind tried to make sense of the cryptic remark. Was he talking about Legge? But why would the lieutenant need medical help?

Trying to remember what had happened after his collapse in the wardroom, Graham turned his head in the direction Hedge had vanished to see whether Legge was lying in one of the cots, but his view was obstructed by another sickbed with an injured man in it, who seemed to talk to him calmly.

Graham frowned and squinted in an effort to clear his hazy vision. "Mr... Hardwick?" Unsure whether the deathly pale, sunken face looking at him really was his mate, he lifted his head, only to be reminded by a pang of searing pain that his shoulder did not allow him such movements. Dropping back onto the hard surface of his cot, he nevertheless did not take his eyes off Hardwick.

"Don't you die on me, you hear? I need you." It was all he could do, all he could think of in his current state, but Graham knew that no matter how ill he felt himself, it was nothing compared to what Hardwick was going through. His common sense told him that in the end, his words wouldn't make any difference and yet, his obstinacy refused to accept the obvious.

Frustrated by his own helplessness, haunted and mortified by the sight of Hardwick, and desperate to escape the sensations of the sickbay, Graham stared at the wooden ceiling and felt his eyes drop shut as his body finally succumbed to exhaustion and slipped into an uneasy sleep.

[Christian Hardwick]

Costa helped him to drink. The tea was awful but fortunately there was water near, and he was able to lift the cup and drink a bit to wash the bitterness away.

"Amazing what your tea is doing to men" he teased the boy. "I couldn't lift this but half an hour ago."

He was even smiling. Despite all the pain, he didn't worry now. The talk with Costa earlier gave back his faith that he was in God's hands, here or in another world.

Mr. Moore apparently heard him and spoke too.

"Don't you die on me, you hear? I need you."

He knew. There would be so much work to do.

"I'm trying my best, sir. Rest now if you can... I worry for you just like you do for me."

Although Chris kept his feelings for himself for most of the time, he liked Mr. Moore, even if he was a superior, he had always been the closest thing to a friend, beside Costa.

Costa. It would be best if the lad would officially be made the surgeon's assistant, he definitely had a talent for this job, unlike Hendrik.

The cat woke up and meowed at him.

My poor Mackie... who will take care of you? Sure you can get your food by hunting, but who'll love you when...

[Percival W. Legge]

"Who was it that patched you up the first time?" Doctor Hedge asked.

Indeed, who had? The aftermath of Fox's attack had become a blur, so much had occupied his mind since. He remembered intervening when Hendrik had stood gawking at Moore's scars, but Hendrik hadn't tended his wound, had he? Costa had been there apologising –

“Costa, this is Costa's work,” he said and immediately winced, not a clever choice of words. Then realised he may have made it worse, since Hedge probably did not know Costa was responsible for the wound in the first place.

Or Hedge might simply assume he had winced in pain. He looked at the doctor working now and lifted his arms out of the way, so a bandage could be reapplied.

“Sorry,” he shook his head, “to answer your question properly, Costa tended to me. He assists Doctor Locke from time to time and seems, at least to me, to have practical knowledge or skill for it.”

Once Hedge was done, Percy reached for his shirt and got dressed again.

[Daniel Hedge]

“Costa, this is Costa's work”

Daniel studied the lieutenant at first because he was impressed to hear that Costa had taken care of the situation so well, but then because of the odd reaction the man had had to his own choice of wording. Why would that bother him enough to correct himself? Interesting indeed.

The work didn't take long to finish and Mr. Legge didn't wiggle as much as some of his other patients. As the man was preparing to leave, Daniel decided to bring something up.

"A question for you sir. About Costa," he said rather casually; his eyes were studying the lieutenant once more, though. Why he decided to wait for the man's recognition before continuing his question, he wasn't entirely sure. It was an innocent enough question but, for some reason probably pertaining to the man's reaction before, he felt the need to study his reaction now.

[Percival W. Legge]

Already standing, Percy fastened the last buttons of his shirt. When the Doctor announced he had a question, Percy looked up and nodded slightly to prompt him to continue. A question about Costa, the Doctor clarified, then stopped.

Percy waited for moment, showing no reaction, fully expecting Hedge to continue. When he didn't Percy's brow creased, his eyebrows drew together in a puzzled expression. He realised now the gaze Hedge had levelled at him wasn't merely polite attention, but an observing, scrutinising gaze.

“Doctor Hedge? What about Costa?” he asked.

[Daniel Hedge]

No unexpected reaction, well then there was nothing to wonder about any longer. Daniel dropped his scrutinizing gaze and continued his thought after the lieutenant's prompt.

"I was wondering if you'd pass on a message to Captain Thorne for me. I have been impressed by Costa's help in the events following the skirmish with the pirates and I believe he could be even more of a help. With Dr. Locke retiring soon and Hendrik being, well..." he paused a moment so as to not say anything that would seem to insult the man's work. He tried but he simply didn't have the knack for this kind of work. "I mean to say that I would like Costa to be made an official medical assistant. Being as you have witnessed first hand how able the boy is, I thought that passing the message through you would be beneficial."

Daniel's gaze swept the room as if alighting on the fact that a good assistant was of the utmost importance considering everything that still needed to be done. He could teach the boy a lot and the boy could teach him a thing or two as well, he presumed.

Picking up a rag, he busied himself with cleaning up after the surgery and blood clotting procedure. Keeping a clean workplace was almost impossible on a ship, but Daniel tried. Working with soiled instruments was... a disgusting thought to him.

[Marina Costa]

Marina was helping the master’s mate to drink, after having convinced Mackie to change position so that the wounded could move a little, as needed. A part of her wanted to ask him how he was feeling, how intense the pains were, but she knew her place and with the doctor in the same room she couldn’t do it. She was aware it would look presumptuous, so she left only her serene gaze and friendly smile be a slight comfort for Mr. Hardwick.

”Are you comfortable, or should I set your pillow better? Anything else I can do?” she asked him.

She had barely ended her words, when she heard the new doctor asking Mr. Legge, who was ready to leave the sickbay, for her to be officially appointed as a medical assistant. And moreover, praising her that he had been impressed by her help!

Marina was ready to let drop the empty cup from her hand, due to the strong emotion. But – she asked herself – was this exactly what she wanted to do? Of course she would do it, if asked; obeying orders was important in the Navy, and it was a work she liked doing – if not for other reasons, at least because it complied with God’s commandments to help the people around. Doing her best to alleviate suffering was something, if learnt before, carved forever in her lifestyle since the years spent in the monastery. It was also an important opportunity to learn new things which would help some day, when back in the Mediterranean.

But for her unfortunately measured time in the Navy, learning from the sailing master was also extremely important, maybe more important than being a surgeon’s mate. These were two aspects to ponder… for a choice of her life. She raised her head, smiling widely and knowing which would be her answer if somebody wanted to know her preference.

[Christian Hardwick]

Costa helped around him and asked:

"Are you comfortable, or should I set your pillow better? Anything else I can do?"

"If you could help me a bit higher. I'd like to see."

There wasn't much to see but he was tired of the same position.

But before Costa could answer they heard they doctor telling Legge he'd like the lad as official helper.

"Hey, I just thought they should do that" he said. Costa seemed a bit surprised but generally happy.

"Don't worry, you'll be great." he said.

He was feeling slightly better. Perhaps the good sleep and the tea had an effect, but he wasn't likely to sleep again now. The pain softened a bit and he realized something. He hasn't eaten anything for god only knows how long. But he wasn't sure he'd bear it. Drinking was fine. Perhaps he could try soup? He should ask the doctor later.

[Percival W. Legge]

Make Costa a surgeon's mate? Percy couldn't say he was surprised by the request, Costa had been spending most of his time since the raid assisting in the surgery. And there was the position of second surgeon's mate to fill. He'd just assumed they would find someone new once back in Barbados. For the moment they had two doctors, which more than made up for being short one mate. Had the request come from Costa himself?

“Doctor Hedge, Costa is also a skilled top-man, and the ship must take precedence over its men. I'll consider your request to reassign Costa, and I'll mention it to Captain Thorne, but I don't know yet what my recommendation to him will be.”

It was, of course, true that the Captain had the ultimate say in everything on board the ship, but matters of crew assignment were just as much Percy's domain, and the Captain rarely concerned himself with the details of watch bills, gun crews, and other staff allocations, especially of lower ranks, as long as ship operations ran smoothly. Thus, by wanting the topic raised with Thorne, Hedge had effectively signalled that he was serious about the request and wouldn't easily be dissuaded.

[Daniel Hedge]

"Of course I understand, Lieutenant, the ship will always need good men on deck. I was simply suggesting that you may have the makings of a good doctor in your midst and those are rather rare to come by, particularly for the Navy. And, of course, there is always the idea that the strong sailors you have employed will be more useful to you if kept alive and well if ever they are unfortunate enough to visit the sickbay.

Anyhow, the matter does not have to be cleared now. I am a patient man and it wouldn't be any trouble to wait for a verdict until after Doctor Locke has retired from 'Steadfast'." Daniel knew talent when he saw it. Most ships, he knew from experience, often only employed simple butchers as their surgeons due to the regular high mortality rate. However, wasn't it the job of the medically inclined to make progress in his field? He felt that such a mortality percentage could decrease with advances and young ideas. In fact, he had a friend back in England right now who continued to write him about how some young upstart was flaunting ideas about invasive surgery. Daniel himself thought the idea was preposterous but only because he didn't believe they had the capabilities for it in this time. Such a risk was too high and practicing such a procedure would most likely involve several illegal actions. Still... it was a tempting idea.

Pushing the tangent from his mind, Daniel wiped his hands on a rag hanging from his belt, "Anyway, I didn't mean to keep you from your duties, sir. And please be weary of light-headedness, drink water or tea if you do experience it."

He decided to leave the conversation there for the time being, it could be continued at a later date. He would make his rounds to check up on the patients, but first a visit to Hardwick. He'd been aware that the man hadn't slept during the surgery and Costa was now helping him get more comfortable.

"What are you feeling, Hardwick?" What are you feeling, not how are you feeling. It was a bit of a habit if ever Daniel asked the question of his patients, if only because he felt it gave him a more accurate answer.

[Christian Hardwick]

The doctor stepped to him.

"What are you feeling, Hardwick?"

"It's like as if I'd still have that blade in my body. Something that stabs with every movement. But at least I'm not cold now."

Yes, the fever was gone. He knew it could come back later but he he was grateful for the temporary relief.

"Sir, I was thinking... don't know what you say... could I try to eat a little soup or something?"

He wasn't sure it would be a good idea, but when swallowing drink he didn't feel extra pain. He thought his stomach was unhurt, the injury was lower. Well, the doctor knows it better. He wasn't too good in anatomy, all he knew was where to find the heart.

[Marina Costa]

Mr. Hardwick was tired of laying in the same position and she couldn’t blame him. When he asked to be helped a bit higher, she fluffed his pillow and complied immediately, but without sudden moves, not to cause him more pain, while also taking care to not startle the cat.

Not knowing her thoughts concerning the doctor’s request, the master’s mate encouraged her:

"Hey, I just thought they should do that. Don't worry, you'll be great."

She met his gaze, clouded by pain and medicine, with a surprised one. She hadn’t expected this - and her worry wasn’t about not being able to comply with the new requirements. Besides, Mr. Legge didn’t seem too pleased by the request either.

“Doctor Hedge, Costa is also a skilled top-man, and the ship must take precedence over its men. I'll consider your request to reassign Costa, and I'll mention it to Captain Thorne, but I don't know yet what my recommendation to him will be.”

”I anticipated this,” she whispered, making sure to be heard only by the wounded.

There was no indication in her tone, nor in her gaze, if she liked or not the lieutenant’s intervention – except a brief glitter at the appreciation that she was a “skilled topman”.

Then, as Doctor Hedge came to see Mr. Hardwick and got told that he was hungry, she looked questioningly at the doctor. Irrespectively how much she had annoyed Dickens today with the tea, she would go again to the galley for a soup if he allowed it.

[Daniel Hedge]

Ah. He had almost forgotten about food with all the commotion that the Lieutenant had brought with him. Of course food would be in order.

"Some broth and bread will do, if you can get it down. My apologies, Costa, if the cook is unhappy then he may take it up with me. Hardwick, try to sleep more after you've eaten; I'll be making rounds again shortly." Daniel excused himself and then finished putting away his tools from earlier. Costa would no doubt keep a watch on Hardwick for the time being, he seemed to have an affinity for the man.

With that, he left to grab himself a bit of sleep. It had been a very long day and he knew that tomorrow would need close to the same amount of attention as today had. Sleep would be good.