Timeless

i. Smith and Jones

   Lena stood, rolling her eyes. "All of space and time, you said, and I'm stuck with you in a hospital .. on earth." She raised her voice slightly at the end. "Oh, Lena, don't be like that; this can be as exciting as all of space and time." She couldn't tell if he was being serious or not, but before she could ask, the curtain flew open.

"Now then, Mr Smith, a very good morning to you. How are you today?" The man asked cheerfully. "Oh, not so bad. Still a bit, you know . . . Blah." By the way, he answered, you wouldn't guess he was ill.

"John Smith, admitted yesterday with severe abdominal pains. . . Jones, why don't you see what you can find? Amaze me."

Lena watched as the woman made her way to the side of the bed, the exact side Lena was on. "Oh, am I in your way? I'm so sorry," The brunette said, sounding apologetic.

"Oh, you're alright, don't worry." Lena flashed her an appreciating smile.

She watched as the woman turned her attention to the Doctor. "It wasn't very clever running around outside, was it?" Lena furrowed her brows and looked at him in confusion. "Sorry?" "On Chancellor Street, this morning. Came up to me and took your tie off." even more confused,

Lena looked over at him. "I've been with you all day. When did you do that?" He looked at her and then back at the other woman. "Really? What did I do that for?" A dumbfounded expression took over Lena's features. "Okay, or just ignore me, that's fine too."

The black-haired woman smiled awkwardly before replying, "I don't know, you just did."  "Not me. I was here in bed. Ask the nurses." fully convinced of that. Martha was now the one confused. "Well, that's weird 'cause it looked like you. Have you got a brother?" she questioned. "No, not anymore. Just me," he responded casually.

"As time passes and I grow ever more infirm and weary, Miss Jones . . ." The older man said, smiling, but anyone could hear the annoyance in his voice. "Sorry." She apologized quickly, laughing it off.  "Right." Lena watched as she took the stethoscope and placed it on his chest. This was the part she was worried about most.

Lena watched closely as the woman's facial expression changed. She watched as she placed the stethoscope on one side and quickly moved it to the other. The black-haired woman looked up at Lena, confused; in return, Lena flashed an innocent smile. "I weep for future generations. Are you having trouble locating the heart, Miss Jones? The old man said, very clearly annoyed this time.

She took off the stethoscope, smiling uncomfortably now. "Um, I don't know. Stomach cramps?" shaking her head a bit. "That is a symptom, not a diagnosis." still smiling but very clearly fed up. "And you rather failed basic techniques by not consulting first with the patient's chart."

As quickly as the chart was picked up, it was dropped even quicker as the clipboard seemed to shock the older man. "That happened to me this morning."  "I had the same thing on the door handle."   "And me, in the lift." Confused, Lena looked down at the Doctor, mouthing the word, "What?" in response, he shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "How helpful." she thought.

"Well, it's only to be expected." the man said as he picked the chart back up, "There is a thunderstorm moving in, and lighting is a form of static electricity, as was first proven by . . . Anyone?" looking around to see if anyone knew the answer. "Benjamin Franklin." the Doctor answered. "Correct."

"My mate, Ben. That was a day and a half. I got rope burns off that kite. And then I got soaked." "Quite."  "And then I got electrocuted!" he finished off with a smile. The older doctor looked at Lena with a questioning look. "Delusional, write it down in the chart." She said with a very uncomfortable smile, pointing toward the clipboard in his hands. "Moving on."