Viggo's Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Days

Part 25-Paralysis Part 2

"Don't apologize again, I'm sure that your brother is tired of hearing it. Yeah he's asleep right now, but so am I. You were only trying to help."

Ola's hands disappeared back into the tub of water, and Ryker cringed slightly at the sight of the piles of bloody surgical tools. The healer hadn't used them on Viggo, but it still wasn't a happy view. "Viggo slipped a disk in his back, and you carrying him just shoved it out of place a bit more, pressing on the nerves. I got in back in place, and if he stays in bed like I told him too then it should heal fine."

Ryker nodded at Ola's back, still feeling guilty. "If I had permanently paralyzed him, he would never forgive me." Ola shrugged. "But you didn't."

"But I-"

"Only did what you felt you could to save him."

Ryker stood tongue tied, at a loss as to how to explain his weighty sense of lingering guilt. She looked up from the cleaning with a no-nonsense expression. "If I let myself feel guilty over every person who has died under my care, then I wouldn't be here right now. You need to move on. Honestly, I don't even think Viggo is mad- even if he'd never admit it, he understands that you did your best.

"And really, you could have done much worse. You could have tried dragging him, or dropped him. You could have left him behind to go for help, only to have him get eaten by a dragon, or get caught in another landslide. You could have gotten hurt as well and have been useless, leaving you both stuck out there."

Ashamed, Ryker looked away, knowing that Ola was right. She was always right, about anything that he ever needed advice for. Her frank attitude was a reassuring presence, one that soothed away Ryker's worries every time.

"My point is, Viggo's been awake for a little while and he's already bored out of his mind. He's going to be in bed for at least a few weeks, and I don't want him being stubborn and getting up before I decide that he's good and ready. Go sit with him."

Ryker nodded but paused in the doorway. "I want to thank you." Ola shrugged. "Healing is what I'm here for."

"Not just for that. For your advice too." Ola blushed, trying to hide it behind her long curls.

"I just wanted to ask- could you teach me a little medicine? Not much, but just enough so that I don't mess up again when something like this happens."

Ola turned to Ryker and nodded. "Of course! Now go to your brother."Ryker left and Ola turned away, smiling to herself, cheeks still pink with happiness.