Strange Winters: Heroes Fall

11. In Over Head

Kyra sat in Dr. Strange's desk as she reviewed his notes. She forgot how much paperwork went into being a doctor. She had spent hours in one spot looking through the same stuff all over again. As soon as she finished updating the last file, Kyra slammed down the pen and left the room in a fluster.

"Stephen, did you ho- oof!"

And she ran straight into someone coming in.

"I'm... so sorry!" Kyra apologized.

The doctor watched her be all flummoxed and stared at her with a smirk.

"Is he... is he decent? I've got these..."

"Oh, what! No. No, no no!" Kyra laughed at what she thought the other woman was assuming. "He's not in there. I haven't gotten a chance to introduce myself! I'm Kyra Dawson, Stephen's new resident," she extended a hand in greeting.

"Christine Palmer," the doctor returned the handshake as she laughed at the idea. "Resident. For Stephen? Stephen Strange?" She asked as they began walking down the hall.

"Yep. He is the best neuro in the west, isn't he?"

"And who's your father?"

"Father... long story. But I have Tony Stark to thank for this little arrangement."

As they were getting to know each other, Stephen was heading back to his office, and caught them coming his way. He then remembered what the new girl was here for and tried to hide, but Christine found him.

"Delivery!" Christine teased him.

Stephen sighed. "Ah, yes. Dr. Palmer, this is... this," he brushed her off, not bothering to remember her name.

"Dr. Kyra Dawson? Your new resident. Have fun!" She smacked him on the arm with a file and wished Kyra good luck before going away.

Kyra was waving Christine off and had forgotten about Strange. She ran to catch up to him again. "Okay, all your files are up to date, all your stationery is organized, and your bin's all clean. I've done your chores for the next two days so please can I work with you now?"

Stephen exasperatedly sighed at her insistence before he decided to test her. "Weakness to patients?"

"General fatigue, lethargy sensory disturbance."

"Weakness to surgeons?"

"Loss of of power from disorders affecting motor pathways in central/peripheral nervous systems."

"Shaking."

"Tremors, chorea, athetosis, myoclo-"

"Numbness?"

"Hypesthesia, hyperesthesia, parest-"

"Allodynia."

"Perception of normally innocuous stimulus as painful," Kyra sighed. "Look, you can ask me the entire DSM and I can answer correctly. Can we please just grasp the idea that you're stuck with me and get to work?"

Stephen returned the sigh and finally stopped walking and looked at her for the first time. "Fine. Tomorrow 7am sharp and ready with your scrubs and supplies. 7:01 and you're gone."

Kyra tried hard not to squeal. "Oh, I'm good with time. Trust me."

"Good for you," Stephen rolled his eyes and went to his office. "See you tomorrow."