The Artful Dodger

1.02 Disgust

"I've come here to train." I said. Jack's head instantly dropped. Just when I thought he was about to say something absurd, he laughed lightly as he looked up at me. His eyes raked up and down my body. "Horses?" he asked. "This was all I could find in a hurry." I replied. I let an amused look cover my face. He never said anything so I decided to tease him a little. "Sure, it is horses I came to learn about. Learn to ride from the surgeon who spends his time either in surgery or committing crimes. He sounds just like the type to learn to ride from." I said quietly.

Jack's eyes narrowed on me as he stopped leaning on the door. "Besides, I have been riding since before I could walk. I would easily kick your ass in a horse rase" I teased him. His eyes only narrowed further on me. So today is not the day for jokes I guess. Well, too bad for him. He must lay in the bed he has made for himself.

"I'm afraid today is not a very good day for me." he said as he walked past me. I rolled my eyes at him, he is about to make this about the whole losing his hand thing. I followed after him into the back rooms. "You see, I'm trying to resolve a personal issue." he added. I knew it. I bloody knew it. "Yes, well, that personal issue is a part of why we have a deal, remember? Now, it happens to be a very good day for me." I said making him sigh. I am going to be the death of him. I can see it now. I smiled lightly.

"Where do I start?" I asked him. He paused and leaned on the doorframe. I bit my lower lip lightly at the sight. There is no need for this weird feeling in my stomach. He looked over at the woman behind me as a smirk made its way to his lips. "Hetty will introduce you to the other nurses and issue you with a uniform." he said. I glanced back at the woman, that gave Jack the idea the conversation was over and beginning to walk away. How wrong he is. I followed after him.

"Uh, no. I'm not here to train as a nurse. But you are here to teach me the art of surgery." I told him. I moved to look at his tools. Tools that have actually been used for surgery. He was somewhere behind me, fiddling with something. "That was never the deal." he denied.

I traced my fingers over the instruments. "Hmm, that was precisely the deal. In return for me not handing you over to my father, the governor, the man with all the power and lust for hanging." I said before I turned to lean on the table. "Not to mention, I am his favorite daughter, all things considered. More so after the... episodes started. You will do what I say." I told him. I crossed my ankles over one another. I watched as Hetty tied Jacks apron. I looked over her closely. I'm not sure he loves her, but she sure does love him.

"Women cannot make surgeons." he replied as he looked at me. I smiled lightly. "Of course we can." I replied. "She does have both hands." Hetty teased him. "Thank you, Hetty." Jack huffed. "Trouble in paradise?" I asked her. Her eyes widened before she moved to stand against the door. Yeah, I was on to her. "These are not my rules. They are society's rules." he said to me as if I hadn't known. He moved to stand on the other side of the table.

Sadly, I am well aware of the fact that women are not seen as useful. In fact, we are lucky if we are seen at all. "Mmm. Yes, I know. But, see, you forget. Here, I am society." I told him. I stood before I turned to face him. I crossed my arms over my chest. "Professor McGregor will never accept you." he argued. If I weren't smart I would say it sounds as if he cares about me; but I am smart and do know better, so I know he doesn't. I laughed lightly at his statement as a smile made its way to my face. "Did you miss the part where I said I was the governor's daughter?" I asked.

He didn't get a chance to speak as I continued. "I'm as close to royalty as it comes here." I told him. He leaned forward on the table. "Not in this place, you're not." he said. "Do you even know who signs your bosses checks?" I asked him. I too leaned on the table, our faces only inches apart. "I'll give a hint, it is not my father" I whispered so Hetty couldn't hear me. I smirked lightly as he glanced at my lips.

"Fine. Here, you start where everyone else starts." he said as he looked back to my eyes. A smirk of his own took over his face.

Feces. He meant human feces. He wanted me to change out the bed pans. Without a doubt he wanted me to back out of this and leave. But I won't. So, painfully, I crawled under each bed and gathered the bed pans. I tried my best to keep from coughing; however, not always keeping it at bay. I cleared my throat as I stood up, bed pan in hand. I could feel Jack's eyes on me the entire time.

I walked over to him, him meeting me half way. I tried my best to keep the pain in my chest from showing on my face. "Well done. Now, if Your Majesty would take this royal offering and 30 more like it and place it in the pit at the rear of the hospital, that would be excellent, thank you." he said cockily. Outside the door? Is that what he said? "You take human excrement from sick people and dump it outside the door?" I asked him.

I looked him in his eyes as he answered me, hoping to god I could spot a lie in his eyes. "Well, you may fashion a quilt from it, should you desire." he replied. I blinked a few times, my jaw dropping in shock. I looked around completely baffled. "This place is horrendous. My lord, Belle would have a field day" I said, getting quieter as I spoke. "You noticed?Jack teased.

I cannot believe him. And the humor that is etched onto his face at the whole situation. I cannot with him. He is almost as bad as Smales. Ok, so that is a lie. No one could be as bad as Smales; well, besides Captain Gains and the second ever suitor my mother found for me.

I looked to the right, to the nurses. "Has no one here heard of cleanliness?" I asked them. I looked back to Jack, seeing as he is the doctor. "Have you read the literature coming out about hygiene?" I asked him. "We're a little busy here to get much reading done." he answered. I narrowed my eyes on him. He always has something to say when it comes to reading.

"Oh. Then you are killing your patients." I told him as I walked over to Hetty. I placed the bed pan in her hands before walking back to Jack. "This lot would be safer living in a pig pen." I snapped at him.

Jack placed his hand on my shoulder and dragged me to the far side of the room. He got incredibly close to my face as he began to speak, only a few inches apart. "The first task of any doctor is not to panic their patients. Now, I agree with you. The ward is less than savoury, but that is how the Prof likes it." he hissed quietly. I huffed lightly. Of course that man does. He is just as disgusting as this place it.

"The professor's a giant windy pop in an overcoat." I told him. I know he knows this. But it needs to be said. This place is atrocious. "Well we do agree on something" he replied. I smirked lightly before letting it drop. "I refuse to work in there." I told him. "Fine. Thank you for the honour of your visit." he sassed before he began to walk away. I watched as he walked to the middle of the room. He almost made it to Hetty.

He thinks he has gotten rid of me? I cannot with him. Seriously. "I will need mops." I called out as I walked after him. Jack turned to look at me. I just walked past him, ignoring his almost shocked look as I moved to Hetty. "And I need to address the nursing and laundry staff." I told her. I then turned and took a few steps towards Jack. "And, yes, some other clothes." I told him as I saw he was once again raking his eyes over my body. I turned and walked out of the room. The nurses followed after me as Jack stayed glued to his spot, watching me as I left. Men. They are all one in the same.