Chapter 149

Chapter 149 She seems idealistic

BECKY

As I glanced over the large stack of patient records that Dic kson had handed me, my eyebrows shot up in surprise. The records were more detailed than I’d expected, and I knew they would be of great help to my research.

I scanned through them and sighed. I certainly had my work cut out for me, but I was excited to get somewhere with it all. The sooner I found answers, the sooner could go back to Anemond.

But as I glanced over and watched Dic kson take a long, deep breath before heading over to treat yet another patient, I knew I had a moral obligation to help him out. Healers wouldn’t let others struggle, no matter how rude or off-putting they

Dwere.

So, I set the records down in the first room down the hallway, and once returned from stashing them away, I approached Dic kson and the woman he was currently taking a look at.

“How can I help?” I asked.

The healer seemed taken aback by my offer, and his eyebrows crinkled as he turned to look at me..

“Aren’t you here solely for an investigation?” he wondered as he stared at me in confusion. “I gave you the records

You should be able to begin your work.”

“Sure, but you look like you could use a hand,” I replied as if my answer was

vious.

But Dic kson still didn’t look convinced.

“I can handle this,” he insisted, but I shook my head.

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“I’m sure you can,” I said gently. “On a normal day. But I can see it in your eyes. It’s been a long day.”

Dic k son’s blue eyes blinked in surprise as he studied me.

“I guess I just thought you would grab the records and leave,” he admitted quietly. “I figured you were some kind of detective or something and once you were set on your mission… I don’t know, you’d forget all about Wild Crawler.”

I shook my head and smiled at him. “I’m not that sort of person. Sure, I’m trying to do some investigative work to bring back to Anemond, but I’m a healer first and foremost. I won’t stand by when patients are clearly suffering. If we work together, we should be able to do some good around here.”

“You seem idealistic,” Dic kson remarked. “I wish I could be that positive.”

“I don’t disagree,” I admitted, and then I smirked. “But you too, must have at least some idealism as you’ve chosen to stay here in Wild Crawler rather than return to the safety of the capital.”

“The salary doesn’t hurt either,” he chuckled as he pushed his gla*ses further up his freckled nose. “The Alpha King promised a pretty high amount, you know. It’s basically a bribe.”

I smirked. “Well, either way. I’m here to help. Jasper said he’d send a se rvant over later, but until then, I’m at your disposal. Just tell me how I can a*sist.”

Dic kson considered the offer for a moment and then gave me a genuine, though tired smile. “Okay.”

I nodded.

I couldn’t help but feel for him. This was a stressful situation all around and I could only imagine how awful he had to feel after so long with little sleep.

We got to work right away. I helped Dic kson set up a ventilator for an ailing young woman, and once she was set, we walked over and set up an IV for an older gentleman in the cot next to her.

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As we adjusted the medical devices, Dic kson glanced over at me. “Thank you, Becky. I appreciate the help.”

“Of course,” I replied. “It’s no trouble at all.”

“Still,” he said. “Every bit helps. I’m sorry about my attitude earlier. I had wrongly a*sumed that you would be like the other healers who made brief visits here and then left without actually helping with patient care. It’s been a frustrating past few weeks. I’m at my wit’s end.”

“I’m sure,” I said. “I’m sorry you’ve had to shoulder that burden. I know my visit is at an inopportune time. But I appreciate you helping me with the patient records, and I’ll do anything I can to a*sist while I’m here.”

Dic kson smiled. Though he was a little rough around the edges, I could. understand that he at least had a sense of humor, and likely a good heart buried deep down.

We spent the afternoon working together and taking care of the ailing patients of Wild Crawler. Just as Jasper had promised, a few serv ants arrived later in the day and helped out with cleaning and other tasks that helped lighten our workload.

Once our patient checks were completed, we found a moment to rest in the office room where I’d stashed away my backpack and medical kit.

Dic kson stared at my belongings in confusion.

“What’s all that?” he wondered.

“Oh, those are mine,” I explained. “Just some research and other supplies I brought with me from Anemond.”

“I see,” Dic kson noted, but he still appeared confused.

“I’m planning to stay here in the clinic to conduct my research,” I explained.

“It might be better for you to take the documents with you and return here tomorrow,” he suggested gently, and he walked over to the counter and poured me

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a gla*s of water from a pitcher. I accepted it gratefully, and after I took a long, satisfying drink, I shook my head.

“I think I would prefer to stay here,” I said. “I want to learn more about the patients and the source of the infection. Lugging all of the information back and forth would be inconvenient, and besides, I work best at night. Having access to all of the medical equipment and such would be better for me.”

Dic kson hesitated for a moment and then removed his gla*ses.

“We don’t have any available rooms,” he said cautiously. “So you’d have to sleep

here in the office.”

“That’s perfectly fine by me,” I insisted. “I can sleep on the couch with no complaints. I’m used to doing that in the clinic in Anemond. It’ll be no trouble at all.”

Dic kson studied me for a moment and then smirked.

“I do my best work late too,” he agreed. “I usually stay in the clinic overnight if there aren’t any experienced ser vants to help out. I’m sure we could work something out. I might actually be able to get some sleep if there’s someone else to take overnight shifts.”

“I would be more than willing to do so,” I insisted.

Dic kson nodded and then put his gla*ses back on.

“You’ve got a deal,” he said.

I smiled. “Excellent.”

After a moment’s silence, Dic kson removed his lab coat and hung it on a rack in the corner of the office.

“Why don’t we go get some dinner?” he suggested. “There’s a good restaurant at the end of the street that stays open late.”

I considered the idea for a moment. I supposed I’d be expected back at the

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Pack House, but getting to know Dic kson better sounded like a better idea.

were going to be spending some long hours together in the clinic. The least I could do was join him for a meal.

“Sounds great,” I agreed.

I removed my own lab coat and after I hung it up on the rack, I followed Dic kson to the front of the clinic.

“Will you please tell Alpha Rayden that I won’t be having dinner at the Pack House?” I asked one of the serv ants.

“Of course, Miss Becky,” she replied politely

I smiled at her, and after Dic kson and I shared a nod, we left the clinic to go get

dinner.