Down In Rain

A Butcher At Heart (8)

Dima, Day 1, 2:15 PM,

The blood bag's tether was carefully unlatched from me. It had felt like forever when the transfusion process had begun.

Doctor Felix took a last look at the blood bag before tossing the bag a few feet from the camp out into the rain.

"How do you feel?"

A smirk crept across my face,

"I feel like I just got put through the ringer."

Doctor Felix's face instantly turned to concern, as his brow furrowed,

"Do you have a fever? Or any chills?" He placed his hand on my forehead. It was as cold as stone.

"No, I'm fine Felix. I just kinda feel like crap right now."

Felix looked over me and put his hand on my chest, feeling the steady thrum of my heartbeat. Concern began to lace his face.

"Your father would frequently say the same thing after losing a fight. Yet he wouldn't stay down even if his life depended on it."

He let out a sigh. As I had just thought of a joke,

"Relax Felix, your one side effect guarantee just kicked in. I'm tired, just like you said I would before we started.

My father used to tell me tales of the things Doctor Felix used to do in order to get money for his government license with the council. A regular medical license wouldn't cut it, so he had to pay for a new one.

By doing so he had not only become the medical director for the council, but he was also still owning a privately owned medical center as a side career.

Most of the stories I had heard were hilarious, with both my father and Felix desperately trying to make coin in the wake of The Rebirth. One of the great wars that had wracked the world 25 or so years ago.

They were willing to do anything to get a couple coins in their pockets. Including the one side effect guarantee, and people did believe it...for a while!

"Really Dima?" Felix's face cringed. "Let's just say that was a mutual effort between your father and I."

He whispered slyly, "Though the money was quite good for a while."

Tamantha had finished looking through her bag for what felt like the third time. She used one of the stones we sat upon to write down a list of her equipment.

I had learned recently that I only needed to look at her eyes to truly read her emotions. She looked fully happy for the first time. With the green of her iris sweeping with humor.

"You two finished now?"

I looked at Doctor Felix who still had a goofy smirk on his face. I laughed. The old man still had a good sense of humor.

"Yeah, I think we're done now Tammy."

Tamantha gazed around the clearing around us, attentively tapping her fingers on her thigh,

"I'd hope so, we've been here for an hour now."

Admittedly we are very behind schedule, but at least we're safe. That is all that truly matters for me right now. As it's my responsibility to protect the lives of these people, my new friends.

Doctor Felix shifted on one of the stones I had set up under the rocks.

"Dima can we seriously talk for a second."

"Sure, what is it?" I made sure to get comfortable on one of the stones. I could be in for a long chat. Felix and I had never spoken on a personal level before. Well not in a long time at least.