The Scars On The Skin

A Helping Hand

Once inside, Newt sat down heavily in his stool, laying the grindylow on his table.

"Ah... much better..." He said, grunting as he moved to face the creature. Tina grabbed a towel fron the corner and tossed it at Newt, who smiled as it draped itself on his back. "Thank you... but I'll dry off as soon as I'm able to put this cream on him..." His words drifted off as he pulled out the cream, his lit wand hovering over the wound on the grindylow. Making quick work, Newt began to pat the area dry with surprising gentleness, careful not to disturb the blisters. Tina sat across from him, watching him work. He was dripping wet...

"Newt...did you fall in?"

He glanced up, smiling before he turned his attention back to the grindylow. "Ah... I actually had to dive in- the little bugger tried to escape but I managed to grab him before he swam too deep into the pond." He said, sounding amused. Tina laughed quietly.

"I figured you would..." She paused. Watching Newt work, her eyes were drifting over his hunched figure. Her eyes had stopped at the center of the towel- there was red slowly blooming along the threads.

"Mercy Lewis... Newt..."
She stood up, striding over. Newt looked up as he finished applying the cream, looking confused at her sudden change in expression.
"What's the matter? Tina, is someth- Ow!"

Tina had pulled off the towel, and thus shifted his shirt against his skin. A long, dark red slash stained against the back of his white shirt, showing hints of torn skin through the material.

"Newt- what... when did this happen?!" She asked, looling a bit panicked. He looked confused, then straightened up with a wince. "Ah...that... I must have scraped against that rock too hard in the pond. It's nothing... I'll get it patched up as soon as I get him back int-"

"Oh no, you don't. You are staying right here until I get that cleaned up and sealed, Scamander." Tina said, dropping the towel into a bin and looking through the cabinets.

Newt sighed quietly, smiling slightly as he watched her grabbing a larger roll of bandages and an ointment, muttering under her breath about zoologists and their nonexistent sense of danger.

"..And lack of common one as well." She said, putting the ointment on the table a little harder than necessary. Newt knew better than to say anything when she got like this, so he only sat up straighter as she looked at his wound. "This one's deep... Well... Off with the shirt, Mr. Scamander."

Newt turned, unaware of his best interests and the pain it caused. "Is it really that bad?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
She turned him back to face forward. "Nevermind that... It's under your shirt, so I couldn't treat even if it wasn't that bad."

Newt sighed, putting his wand down by the grindylow's feet. She did once say it'd be better for them both if he did as she said.

He reached back and pulled at the collar of his shirt, sliding it off with a wince.

Tina's wand stopped halfway way between the table and his back. A bright, deep red gash stretched from his shoulder to just past his spine, almost at his lower back... but it wasn't just that that caught her attention. Soft white scars of gashes, teeth, and even clean cuts marked Newt's skin, small and large alike. It all looked as if someone or something had tried to tear his back off all at once...She held her breath, a hand drifting up but not touching the raised skin. They looked gnarled and wide... a few looked aimed.

"Newt..."

He suddenly spoke. "I've been doing this...for sometime, Tina." Newt said quietly, looking down. "Accidents and injuries are bound to happen. So don't worry... I'll be fine. It's nothing new, after all." He looked over his shoulder, giving her a comforting smile.

Tina gave a shaky breath, nodding. Well... she supposed could see what he meant...

"Al...alright, then." She waved her wand, the cut cleaning itself of the blood drying around it. He was motionless as she dabbed at the wound with ointment, the only sign of his acknowledgment was the hitch of his breath at the first touch.

After a few minutes and much to Newt's dismay, Tina wrapped a bandage tightly all around his torso. It limited his movement and reach, but he knew better than to complain. Tina was silent as she worked- Newt's chest and arms was almost as scarred as his back. It was almost a bit difficult to not linger at them every now and then, but Tina kept herself focused on the wound. Once finished, she helped him slip on and button up his shirt, given he couldn't exactly slouch anymore from how tight the bandages were.

"..And that should do it. Don't you dare take those bandages off or I'll have to put more on you."

Newt tried to turn, but only managed to shift his shoulders. "Tina... how am I supposed to clean and feed everyone like this? I can barely reach my desk from here..."

She gave him a sly smile as she straightened up, closing the ointment.  "You forget- I'm still here to help, Mr. Scamander. So no excuses - You need to rest let that wound heal."

He smiled at her, unable to deny that knowing she cared about him made him feel... almost giddy.

Tina glanced over her shoulder as she tucked away the bandage, the ointment tucking itself into place. "What's the matter? You look like you're trying not to laugh."

He shook his head. "No, Ms. Goldstein... you just can't cease to amaze me, is all."

Part II of ?

Will be continued soon!