8617/Saved: Training

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Saved: Training
Date of Scene: 01 August 2019
Location: Salem Centre Hospital, Westchester, New York
Synopsis: Shannon and Josh do some training at Salem Centre Hospital.
Thanks to: Shannon
Cast of Characters: Elixir, Nightingale




Elixir has posed:
Josh had a flood of calls and text messages after the Sentinel attack in East Harlem the night before. Among the ones he was able to answer was an invitation from Dr. Emil Brandt to come to Salem Centre Hospital, get acquainted with the facility and talk about some opportunities to work together. He got the same calls from Mt. Sinai and Bellevue, but had agreed to come by Salem Centre first. After meeting quite a few people, it occurred to Josh this would be a great opportunity to talk with Shannon. So he phoned the school, spoke with Shannon and made the arrangements. Shannon was either given a school pool car to drive or driven by staff to meet Josh at Salem Centre.

When Shannon arrives, Josh is in the lobby, standing around talking with two well-dressed women in their early 50's.

"Oh my goodness, she's an /angel/," says Dr. Karen North with a delighted smile.

"In and out," Josh assures them. He waves to Shannon.

"Hey Shannon," he says with his usual 1000-watt smile. Josh is dressed in jeans, loafer and a green golf shirt, and his hair is a mess as always. "This is Dr. Karen North, she's the Medical Director here. And this is Dr. Grace McKinnon, head of Pediatrics."

Both women are genuinely pleased to meet Shannon, offer to shake her hand and tell her to call them by their first names.

Nightingale has posed:
     Oh, goodness. An angel, really? Well, there were worse appellations, and perhaps there was a chance that to even one person, Shannon could -be- that angel. Still, the crowded hospital, the new faces, meeting with people who were well her senior in both years and training, it did bring the color of roses back to her face. It's a visible struggle for her to keep eye contact with Karen and Grace, and to keep her wings behind her instead of wrapped around her body in a protective shield. Her cream colored poet's blouse, and blue jeans with ribbon embroidery are clothing de rigeur for the day, but instead of flip-flops, she's had the good sense to put on a pair of white sneakers to prevent slipping.

     Shannon's smile is warm, if a little bit on the tentative side. Just what had Josh told them about her, if anything? She takes a deep breath, squaring her shoulders, and extending her hand to both women. "Shannon Lance... a pleasure to meet you both." Her voice is a little on the soft side, but still audible.

Elixir has posed:
"Josh tells me you're interested in medicine, is that right" Grace asks Shannon with a smile. She and Karen seem to be genuinely pleasant people, but are also obviously doing their best to put a good foot forward.

"I'm gonna show Shannon around, show her a few things. And then we can come up to Pediatrics?" Josh asks.

"Just have the attending page me when you get there," Grace says. They make their goodbyes and walk off together.

"Wow, okay. They're not intimidating at all, right?" Josh says with a grin and runs a hand through his hair. He shows Shannon a blue and green hospital ID badge. "I can go like anywhere with this. Isn't that crazy? You want a coffee? Something else?" Josh offers. He leads the way over to the Starbucks in the lobby and buys Shannon her drink of choice, getting an Americano for himself. He looks a bit tired and sighs contentedly when he sips the drink.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon nods, and brushes a stray bit of hair out of her face, tucking it away behind her ear. "Yes, ma'am... sorry, Grace. If Someone Up Above has seen fit to give the gift, it makes good sense to learn as much as I can about it." She glances pointedly heavenwards, and smiles some. "We'll see you in Pediatrics shortly, then?" After goodbyes are made, she allows her wings to relax, though still keeps them drawn in so as not to knock anybody about by mistake.

     Turning to Josh, she breathes a little sigh of relief, and runs her fingers through her hair. "I hope they're not looking for miracles just yet. There's still so much I don't know about these gifts of mine, and the last thing I want to do is put someone in a worse way than they were before. Or to frighten them just being what I am." At least Starbucks is something familiar, and a welcome treat. Shannon opts for a pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream and caramel--not a healthy treat, but perhaps a small vice one could allow themselves on occasion. She curls her hands around the cup, enjoying the warmth and the aroma before taking a sip. "So what did you have in mind for today? I'm kind of curious."

Elixir has posed:
"Nah, I just told them you were someone I knew interested in medicine, they're not expecting anything. They're trying to get me to work or consult here so they were totally cool with me calling you," Josh explains as they walk away from the Starbucks. "And, Westchester is super pro-mutant. Part of why the Professor kept his old house and made the school here, you know? You're good, you can relax, I promise."

"Soooo... First I'm really sorry I didn't call you sooner. It's been a little crazy, so just making morning training has been hard," Josh says apologetically.

"Second, I wanted to hear about what you want to learn and more about your own ability, so I kind of get a better idea how to help, you know? I mean, I'm not Hank, he's like, master of everything medical, so stick to him like /glue/. And he's really cool. But we're kinda unique, you know? Different perspective."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon shakes her head. "I haven't seen much of him or miss Munroe since coming to the school. It's really kind of disappointing, it would be nice to get to know them a little bit better... they were so kind when I got here. Did get a chance to meet Jean, though." She rolls her eyes and laughs, shaking her head and pausing to take another sip of the latte. "Peter made something of a rude remark at the birthday party, and not only did I splash him for it, but so did she. She's definitely a spitfire with a heart."

     Josh's question renders her silent for a few long moments, brows furrowing as she tries to consider an answer. "There's a lot I don't know about my ability. The short list is that I seem to be able to absorb injuries on physical contact, and what I take in, tends to heal fairly quickly. Ask Megan about that. She was taking me flying and took a bad landing, I had to help her with a sprained ankle. It only took a day or two to heal on me." She traces little circles idly on the side of the cup, over the store logo, pausing to give some thought to her next answer. "I'm not very good at controlling where and when it happens, so that's something I need to learn. And I'm not sure just how much I can handle before it becomes a problem. So there's that to work on. Also, I was hoping to maybe learn more about conventional methods of healing, so maybe I can still be of some use out there, you know?"

Elixir has posed:
"I totally get it, and like, Scott's always on about it. Don't rely just on our powers," Josh says. "Sorry you haven't seen the others much. They're pretty busy."

"Um, so can you feel what's wrong with someone by using your abilities? Or when you're healing them? Or does it just happen?" Josh asks curiously. He takes a sip of his coffee and slowly leads Shannon towards the ER. A few people notice Shannon walking through the lobby and smile, or watch with open curiousity.

A little girl who looks to be all of seven, breaks away from her mother. She runs up behind Shannon and tugs gently on her wing. She is dressed in purple corduroy pants, pink shoes and a blue top with a cartoon hippo on it. She is missing a couple of teeth and has big brown eyes.

"You're really pretty, can I have wings too?" she asks.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry," the girl's mother says apologetically when she catches up. "She kept saying you were very pretty and ran off. Come on, leave the nice people alone."

Nightingale has posed:
     Before she has a chance to answer Josh, Shannon's definitely taken aback by the little girl coming up to her like that, but it's not in an unpleasant way. She's never had anyone do that to her before, and it's a nice change. She sets her coffee down on a nearby side table in the lobby, kneeling down to be on eye level with the child. "Thank you... don't know if you can have wings, but if it's okay with your mom, you can look at mine. Just don't pull on them, okay?" Taking a quick look to either side of her, she extends her wings so the little girl can see and touch them if she wants, and if her mother allows it. She looks up at the woman and smiles. "It's okay, nothing to be sorry about. It's actually kind of nice."

Elixir has posed:
The girl's mother smiles her thanks and nods to her daughter. The girl is delighted to see Shannon's wings and asks her mom to take their picture together. If Shannon allows it, they are very grateful, if not they are understanding. And her display definitely draws some attention from others in the lobby.

Josh stands aside and smiles broadly. He winks to Shannon and sips at his coffee, with his other hand in his pocket.

Nightingale has posed:
     It's impossible to resist that winsome smile on the little girl's face, and for the photo, Shannon gives the little girl a warm, gentle hug. One wing is half curled around the child to otherwise leave her in plain sight for the picture. "You're such a sweetheart. Please don't ever lose that, okay? And be good for your family." She lets the child go and stands slowly, folding her wings in behind her and stepping back. She smiles to the woman. "You have a wonderful little girl there, ma'am. Thank you for letting her say hi."

Elixir has posed:
"Thank you so much," the girls mother says. The girl waves to Shannon as she is led away.

"You're a hit," Josh says with a grin. "You could probably do selfies with people all day here. That happen a lot?"

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon shakes her head, blushing a little bit but smiling from ear to ear. "No, that's actually a first. I'm more used to people running from me, not to me." She watches the little girl leave, reaching for her coffee to find it cooled to the perfect temperature. "I hope the kid learns not to be afraid of us... and if by some chance years down the road, she turns out to be one of us, to not be afraid of herself. That's a pretty lousy feeling."

     She thinks back over the past few minutes, and smiles. That little girl was bound to be a highlight of the day she wouldn't forget anytime soon. But there was something else, too, and she's lost in thought for a moment. "I haven't really -tried- to feel what's wrong with them, so I don't know yet. If I can, or could learn to, that'd probably be a big help. So far, it just kind of happens. So far."

Elixir has posed:
"Hey, you gave her a headstart in the right direction no matter what happens to her," Josh says. "I think she'll remember that forever. Like meeting your favourite character at Disneyland by 10 times better!"

Josh pushes open the doors to the ER and the two are hit by its hum. People talking, monitors beeping, the overhead PA going periodically. It is busy today and there is the mostly coordinated chaos and bustle of emergency rooms everywhere.

"If we can hone your skills on diagnosis, that's gonna be huge," Josh says. "Think of it like, going halfway, or holding back. Or like drinking pop through a straw, but tasting it in your mouth instead of swallowing."

Josh approaches one of the nurses who recognizes him immediately. They talk quickly, then the nurse leads Josh and Shannon to bed three. A teenage boy about Shannon's age is sitting there holding arm. He has a bit of a cut, big enough to need a few stictches but nothing serious.

"Darren, Mr. Foley is working with us and can take care of your cut without stitches," says the nurse. "He has a student with him today, can they examine you?"

Darren looks at Josh and his eyes linger on Shannon. "Yeah, sure, that's coool," he says, a little too hastily.

"Hey Darren," Josh says. "Shannon's going to check that cut out, okay?"

Darren nods and looks to the rather striking winged sixteen year old mutant expectantly. Josh nods to Shannon encouragingly.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon does at least have the good sense to reach for a bit of hand sanitizer nearby, offering an apologetic smile to the nurses. "I'm sorry for not using gloves, but my gift depends on direct physical contact." Which, to Darren, might be a good thing indeed, the way he's quick to accept the help!

     She smiles to Darren and reaches out to lightly cup her right hand over the wounded area, keeping most of her palm away from the open gash. Closing her eyes, she attempts to rein in her gift, focusing instead on assessing the extent of the injury. "It feels like they did a good job of cleanin..."

     She hisses softly, a matching area on her arm first turning red, then opening up as if being sliced by some unseen scalpel. It looks as if her gift has been triggered, as her body begins to absorb the boy's injury.

Elixir has posed:
Josh watches curiously as Shannon sets to work on Darren. Darren reddens a little when Shannon touches him. The nurse is standing there watching with her arms crossed and head titled.

When Shannon hisses and her arm reddens, the nurse looks to Josh with concern. Josh just smiles and shakes his head.

"Good, you had it for a sec," Josh says reassuringly to Shannon. "Finish it. You've got it."

It hurts, obviously, but not a lot. Soon Shannon has a cut exactly matching the one Darren had. Darren's arm is now smooth and unblemished.

"Holy crap, you fixed it!" Darren says, and only then notices what happened. "Oh, ah, hey, you gonna be okay?"

"She'll be fine," Josh says with a grin. He offers his hand to Shannon. When she takes it, Josh's hand glows with a golden aura.

"It's shallow, just into the dermis. No infection, clotted. A clean cut, probably something sharp," Josh describes after a moment. The nurse nods and smiles a bit.

Then the glow spreads up Shannon's arm to her cut. It feels like liquid warmth moving up inside her. The pain is gone immediately. The dermis knits back together, capilliaries rejoin, the epidermis closes. And then smooths. The glow fades and Shannon's arm is just as it was.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon offers an apologetic smile to the nurse and Darren, drawing her hand away. "I'm sorry if I upset or startled you." Her smile is a bit smaller, pained, but still there, by way of reassurance. "Don't worry, it heals quickly."

     She had no idea just how quickly in this case, having never seen Josh use his healing abilities before. When he offers his hand, she accepts, tilting her head and trying to somehow feel what he is doing to her, to try and understand it. Her gaze unfocuses as she attempts to direct her attention to what Josh's gift is doing to heal her body, tilting her head. "That feels kind of like when things heal on me after I absorb an injury, just... sped up. A lot." Was there enough similarity, perhaps, to work with? Only time would tell. "Thank you. Are you sure you're not the angel here?"

Elixir has posed:
"I'm just a guy from Queens," Josh replies wryly. He thanks Darren and ushers Shannon out as Darren says thanks and opens his mouth to say something more. The nurse chuckles.

"You had it there, I could see it," Josh says to Shannon and asks the nurses if they have anything similar. They do of course, this time an elderly woman named Doris who cut her scalp when she fell. She is fine otherwise. They go through the introductions again and Doris is quite happy to let Shannon do her thing, dearie.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon smiles softly at the elderly woman, reaching to hold her hand. "Hi... thank you for letting me help, ma'am." She closes her eyes and very gingerly touches the area around the cut, taking a deep breath and forcing herself to focus. The way it felt when Josh healed her arm is fresh in her mind, and allows her to have a better sense of what she's aiming to do. "Well... the cut feels clean. And I'd check with the doctor, but I'm not feeling injury beneath it, either." Once again, there's the soft hiss, as she begins to absorb the injury. However, this time, the sound is a little bit softer, as if perhaps there is less pain for her in the process. When she moves her hand away, the cut on the older woman's scalp has sealed, and if Josh were to check, an -almost- matching one has opened on Shannon's scalp in kind--just a little bit smaller.

Elixir has posed:
Doris is immediately concerned for Shannon. The nurse promises her everything will be just fine. Josh heals Shannon's injury.

"You learn fast," he says with a smile. He thanks Doris and they move on to the next. And the next.

After the fifth, Josh thanks the nurse and walks with Shannon out of the ER.

"So? How was that?" Josh asks.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Well, I was really glad you were in there, or I'd be one big mass of cuts right about now." Shannon laughs a little bit, shaking her head. "Seeing everyone suffering in there just makes me wish I could heal every last one of them. And that little girl, when we first got there... oh god, she was just too precious for words!" She glances back towards the ER, then down at her hands. "Sooner or later, I'll get the hang of this. Somehow. But enough of that... what about your thoughts?"

Elixir has posed:
"Yeah, if you were any cuter I might've like, gagged or something," Josh jokes. "I know how you feel though, about healing them all? I mean, we can't, and that sucks so bad, you know? I don't like that part."

"My thoughts?" he says. "I think you're gonna be great. Like, you've got the ability, you've got the heart for it, you seem pretty sharp. Practice hard and study hard, and you got it," Josh shrugs. "You don't have anything to worry about. Except like, maybe Darren tracking you down to ask you out or something."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon's face goes flame red inside of two heartbeats, and she ducks her head, wrapping her wings around herself in a protective cocoon. "Oh god... what is it with boys? I'm not all that pretty but they're being so nice and it's just... I don't know!!" Oh, dear. Was someone running into boy trouble already?

     "Practice. Study. Right, got it." She coughs lightly, trying to compose herself again. "That's going to be the hardest part... not being able to help everybody. You're right. That sucks. Badly."

Elixir has posed:
"Yeah, totally not pretty," Josh laughs, merciless. "Must be why that girl was saying it over and over, and Darren had to pick his jaw up off the ground."

Josh sips from his lukewarm coffee with another chuckle. "I'm told we figure that helping everyone thing out. Eventually. Make peace with it or something else stupid someone our parents' age would say," he says, suppressing a smile.

Nightingale has posed:
     "The only one who really gets to help everyone, sort of, is someone in my dad's profession. I mean, everyone sees the undertaker sooner or later." Shannon shivers a little bit. "Now that's a profession I'm not sure I could handle."

     Squealing with pretended outrage, she swats Josh on his shoulder with the flat of her hand, albeit very gently. "You're evil! If it's not someone's jaw dropping in the ER, it's either been flowers or a kiss to the back of the hand... and I'm not even trying to do anything!" Still, she can't help a light giggle, the tips of her ears starting to go red by now.

Elixir has posed:
"The curse of being pretty. You don't /have/ to do anything. Good luck with that!" Josh says with a laugh. "Come on, let's get something to eat and go up to Pediatrics."

Nightingale has posed:
     Nodding, Shannon smiles, squirming a little at the somewhat embarrassing rumble in her general vicinity. "I think my stomach agrees with you!" With that, she follows him to the cafeteria, enjoying a quick bite to eat, before heading up to Pediatrics; hopefully, the pair will be able to heal some wounds, and perhaps some little hearts as well.