You're Too Young To Be So Broken

A Rock and a Hard Place

Aj wasn't getting any better.

Duck held him as he cried, rocking the baby while Clem gave him the last of the medicine Dr. Lingard had provided them.

"Shh, I know it sucks buddy." He laid a soft kiss over the baby's hot forehead.

A series of rough coughs erupted from his tiny throat. Duck flinched with each one, he knew they hurt. His throat had to be sore.

"Lingard said no more after this."

"What?" Duck was confused. "But we said that-"

"I know. We told him he wasn't reacting to the medicine. He's not listening Ducky."

Clem frowned, running her fingers through Aj curly hair. He hasn't been healthy for weeks now, and everyone keeps telling them they're out of options.

"It's bullshit."

"Maybe I could talk to them?"

Clem rolled her eyes. "When has that ever worked? They treat you like shit, especially David." She reached for his face running her thumb over a healing bruise. "The second I get a chance I'll kill him."

"Let's not do anything rash Clem. We have to think about baby Aj right now." Duck looked down at him, he was calmer now comforted by Duck swaying him gently back and forth. Adorably his two little fingers were stuffed in his mouth, as he tried getting some sleep for the night.

"I heard Lingard talking about some medicine that could help. He mentioned it before, maybe we could get a hold of it somehow."

"You mean steal it?"

Duck contemplated his answer. "Only if we have to, we have to be smart about this."

"Where is it?"

"Don't know. I'd have to find out. And let me try to talk to them first please?"

Clementine didn't answer right away. She didn't trust the people in New Frontier, but she trusted Duck.

"Okay. I'll let you talk to them first and if that doesn't work-"

"We'll do what we have to do for our baby. Promise."

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It had been a week and Duck had begun to get impatient. He tried appealing to Dr. Lingard but the man stood firm in what he said. They were done trying to help Aj.

Even though Lingard shot the same medicine they preached they were trying to save up his arm to get high, they were done trying to save a kid's life.

So Duck returned home that night after Aj had been put to bed.

"We're taking the medicine, I know which one it is, but we have to do it quickly."

Clementine sat up from the couch. "Really? You sure?"

"Damn sure Clem, he'll die without it." Duck grabbed a piece of paper scribbling letters on it for Clem to read. "Vancomycin." He gave it to her.

"You'll have to be the one to do it. I have to be at a meeting with the assholes tomorrow. I'll let you know the location."

The plan was set that night. Clementine would have to be the one to carry out the plan. He was trusting her with it. This was about trying to save Aj nothing more, and if they got kicked out trying to do that then all the better.