How Bad is It? (Dr. Roberts)

[Vincent Meian]

Though he had argued vehemently against it, there was no stopping this visit; Nik had insisted, as had a couple of coworkers. Considering that the damage had been done because of a hemokinetic, his wife (a general practitioner and biological manipulator) had demanded that Vincent see a particular doctor at a clinic in town - a man by the name of Owen Roberts.


Despite feeling as if he should shoulder the burden of his injuries alone, the worry of permanent damage eventually forced the trainer to make an appointment. He wasn't terribly concerned with the outcome, as he'd heard briefly about the doctor when he communicated with Lei via email on Monday and knew the doctor was very skilled with his powers. Still, it bothered the prideful man that he needed to ask for help regardless. There were certain things he should have to live with, and the pains of his mistakes were one of them.


But then again, one did not simply refuse his wife's medical advice. To do so was very dangerous.


So, here he was, walking up to the clinic on a Saturday bundled against the cold. Despite what people seemed to think, his legs still worked perfectly fine, so walking was never an issue. Still, the cold of Vermont's winter mornings bit deep into his damaged skin, so he supposed being offered a ride the previous day was not totally in the realm of unnecessary.


The door opened under one bandaged hand, and the tall man strode in, looking around the small office for someone to speak to. There seemed to be no one, but he walked to the counter anyway to be sure. "Hello?" he called, speaking loudly to be heard even down the hall.

[Dr. Owen Roberts]

Owen was sipping at his coffee just after getting back from his lunch break. Duke was sleeping in the corner of his office with a stuffed duck in his mouth. It was quite the sight since Owen was not a hunter, but for some reason Duke was attached to that toy. He was expecting his next appointment soon. A Vincent Meian was coming in. He didn't say much as to what was wrong but that didn't matter to Owen. He could assess the damage pretty quickly and do whatever was in his power to fix it. Although Owen had an ominous feeling about this particular case.

Owen heard the doorbell ring as someone came in and then a male voice calling out. Owen pulled on his white coat and came out into the lobby area. "Hello, sorry to keep you waiting. I'm Dr. Owen Roberts." He held out his hand for a handshake, which was a strategic move. Not only was it a polite greeting, but he could then assess the patient's blood flow and such. That way he could rule out certain problems that could be caused.

He noticed that Mr. Meian looked a little trouble and he could tell he wasn't overly thrilled to be there. But he was here now and Owen wasn't going to take that for granted. Before Vincent could even reach out to shake Owen's hand he had observed this. He quickly added, "What seems to be the problem?" It was something Owen wanted to hear for himself. Once he assessed the blood, he would still want to hear the story from the patient. They always knew more about themselves than Owen could tell. Besides, blood could only say so much.

[Vincent Meian]

When the other man appeared, the tall trainer hesitated and then relaxed as introductions were made. He didn't really want to explain what happened to more people than was needed. His hands, bandaged completely, came out of his pockets and up to his face, moving back that hood of his jacket and pulling the scarf away from his face. The bruise was still there and had started healing around the edges, however it still looked very bad and ached quite a bit. "Good afternoon, Doctor Roberts," he greeted politely. "I am Vincent Meian. I must decline to shake your hand, however, so please forgive my rudeness."


This statement was punctuated by a gesture; both bandaged hands palm-up to show that they were injured, if not what the injury was.


"I would rather speak in someplace less open, if I may," he asked. "It is... quite the story."

[Dr. Owen Roberts]

Pulling his hand back, he observed the man's gestures, looking at the wrapped up hands. Something pretty big had happened and Owen was glad he had come here. Owen ushered him into an exam room and prepared for an exam. Basically that meant washing his hands and pulling on his gloves. While he did so, he decided asking questions and allowing Vincent to explain the injuries.

"You should feel free to speak open in here. Although I have to tell you that the only people in this building is you and I. As long as you don't mind my dog possibly hearing things, but I'm sure he's passed out." Owen was trying to offer a little bit of humor to the situation in order to lighten the tense mood. Owen sat on his rolling stool that he adored and looked Vincent over, getting a feel for where there might be injuries.

"So tell me what happened, Vincent." This would be vital for Owen to get a read on the possible injuries, since he could read the blood activity with a hand shake. That was just fine though, Owen was a trained doctor and he didn't need his powers to treat anyone. He listened intently to Vincent, making sure not to miss any details. Every detail could be vital to treating the injuries that Vincent had.

[Vincent Meian]

Once he'd entered the exam room, Vincent took off his jacket and rested it in a chair, leaning against the edge of the table as the doctor bustled about and got prepared. The joke made him smile a little - he wasn't much of a dog person, but animals were generally all right by him. "Thank you," he answered. "I will be clear, then.


"You have already met a student of mine by the name of Leiken Do Chu," he continued. "He told me of your skill and how you helped him earlier this week, so when I became injured due to his abilities backlashing, I decided to come here." Granted, that was mostly because Nik told him to receive treatment, but he likely would have come to the man anyway. Probably, at least.


For a minute, he struggled with how to express what happened without betraying his own confidence, but he gave up with a sigh. "Perhaps I should simply show you," he conceded. Unclipping the bandages, the trainer unwound one hand first and then the other. All of the skin was a dark purple red, though clean - he hadn't used any of the balm today so that the doctor may have an easier time treating him. His wedding ring, which had been outside the bandages in the first place, was put in his pocket to keep him from losing it. Holding up the bruised appendages, he rotated them in place for Owen to seen, then caught his gaze again. "There are more, however I would prefer to see my hands treated first, if you can."


Of course, he'd show the rest of the bruises if he was asked. Anything to make this appointment run more smoothly.

[Dr. Owen Roberts]

Owen started when he saw the hands. He knew that Lei's powers were strong, but he hadn't expected them to backlash this much. Owen pulled off his gloves quickly and gently touched the hands, feeling how bad the blood flow had been inhibited. It wasn't as bad as it looked and although it was most likely painful for Vincent and would knock Owen out with a migraine for a day or two, he could handle it.

He took his hands away, to give the man a break. He wanted to hear the whole story and he started to devise how he would treat. He already knew where the other bruises were from touching Vincent, but that didn't make a difference to Owen. He wanted to know how Lei had managed to do this, and why Vincent hadn't been more cautious.

"Tell me everything that happened, although I can tell quite a bit, I want to hear the story." Owen rubbed his hands together to warm them, having the typical doctor's cold hands. He gently set them back on Vincent's hands and started moving some blood around. It would feel weird for Vincent, and maybe even a little uncomfortable, but after all was done, he would feel better.

Owen was prepared for a nose bleed and a headache, should either appear. This was going to be a big job and Owen knew that the side effect would rear their ugly heads. It was something he had to deal with as a doctor. He signed up for it and although they weren't pleasant, he still felt good about what he did.

[Vincent Meian]

Hesitating briefly, the trainer forced himself to speak in order to comply. "There was a... misunderstanding," he answered slowly. "Leiken lost control of his abilities due to a strong emotional surge. I took hold of him to keep him from harming himself further, and this is the result. It should have not happened, and the fault is my own, but I do not regret my actions."


The feeling of the blood shifting in his hands felt oddly like getting stitches with half anesthetic, or perhaps like when a muscle begins twitching under the skin from a pinched nerve. It was odd and slightly disconcerting, but it also felt familiar in a way. When Lei learned to control his abilities, is this what it would feel like rather than the needles that accompanied his powers?


"I do not need full treatment," he stated, looking openly into Owen's studious face. "If I may only regain use of my hands, I will heal normally." This was mostly due to the belief that people should learn from their mistakes (and their consequences), but there was a part that was concerned for the doctor. Powers had effects that were often not obvious or comfortable; Vincent wished the man helping him to suffer less for his kindness.

[Dr. Owen Roberts]

Owen listened carefully to his story. The man was familiar with the power, which was good. But he didn't have the control and protection from Lei's powers that Owen did. If only Owen was a trainer, he would take on Lei. However, he wasn't such and he could only help Vincent right now with the injuries. He remained silent as he worked on the movement of the blood, the color of Vincent's hands returning to normal.

"You will not heal as quickly or normally as you think. With this kind of power, it can sometimes be permanent damage. I would really like to be able to treat as much of it as I can." Owen spoke calmly and steadily, giving his medical opinion. In this case, it was also a personal opinion as he knew what kind of damage this power caused and how it was resolved. It didn't matter what kind of effect treating Vincent had on him, he would prefer to do everything he could. Even if that meant a bloody nose and a splitting headache. It was a part of the oath he took as a doctor.

"If you are willing, Vincent, I would like to get the major blood pooled areas cleared up. They are less likely the heal on their own." With this power, what really happened is Owen and Lei are able to reroute blood circulation. It was just one thing they could do and with doing a reroute, that made it much more difficult for the body to heal or even return to its normal function without a little help.

"It might take a little time, but I'm certain I can clear it up pretty easily."

[Vincent Meian]

Nakia had said much the same thing, hence his appearance here in the clinic. It had taken a great amount of convincing to get the Japanese trainer to concede the argument, as well as three other people telling him that treatment was needed, and over a week to think about it. It may or may not have hurt his chances of ever fully recovering, but he'd had worse bruises before; broken bones tended to do that to soldiers.


Even still, with a slight air of petulance, Vincent agreed, "Very well, though do not strain yourself too far. Will you need to see the other areas to mark your progress?"


His hands were the worst of the damage by far, however there were other places that would need attention. His arms were badly damaged to the elbow, and the inside of his biceps had come into contact with Lei when he'd hugged him. He'd held the boy to his chest, leaving his right pectoral in a lesser state of ruin along with his right shoulder and the junction of his neck. The most obvious sign left was the bruising on his face, though like everything else it seemed to be healing. Slowly, given his age, but healing nonetheless.

[Dr. Owen Roberts]

Owen ignored what the man said about straining himself. He would do everything he could to resolve the blood injuries that were caused. Although Owen knew that Vincent had willingly put himself in danger of this injury for Lei's sake, he couldn't help but think the man a little irresponsible. Lei was a danger to himself and people around him. It wasn't like the boy could help it, but the least thing his trainer could do was not let himself get hurt by Lei. That would almost be more damaging to the boy than anything else. Owen didn't want to judge the man though, he had his reasons that Owen would never know.

He closed his eyes, feeling a throb in his head. The moving of blood was going quite well. Owen had picked out the spots that would not heal on their own. He moved the blood away from the damaged spots. There were some pretty severe spots that would take some time. He shook his head at Vincent's question of the spots being exposed. He just needed a physical contact and he could manage it.

A good twenty minutes passed before Owen let go of Vincent's hands. He had cleared up all that he could. He had at least made it so that the spots that wouldn't have resolved on their own now could. If he could get Vincent back into the clinic after a few days, Owen would finish. But he could tell that the man really didn't want to be there. So, he would mention it, but not push it. He turned away to wash his hands and managed to stop a bloody nose in its tracks. He didn't need the man to see the side affects of his power. Owen was probably going to close up the clinic once Vincent left. A day in bed would be just what he needed.

"I would recommend coming in again in a few days, but I have a feeling you don't want." He had gotten that vibe pretty easily. The man didn't seem to really want the help Owen had provided. However, it seemed there were people in his life that had made him go in. Owen turned back to the man, drying his wet hands."There were some more severe spots I couldn't fully clear up, but I managed to fix it enough for them to resolve on their own."

His head was pounding. He needed a drink. And some place dark.

[Vincent Meian]

While the actions that had caused his injuries had been irresponsible in regards to himself, letting his student outright kill himself was not something the trainer could really live with either. This situation was the better of two outcomes (possibly three), and even though he was in pain Vincent honestly felt that what he had done was right. Lei had needed to see that even if he could be hurt by hemokinesis, he would not die - he had faith in the boy, and that faith needed to be proved.

A slight shiver ghosted through the tall man as the blood shifted and pulled away from the tissues in his body, returning to his veins and arteries as the doctor willed it. He was not used to his body being manipulated in such a manner, and though he was appreciative of the effort Dr. Roberts was showing it still unnerved him slightly. Not enough to quicken his pulse or shift his breathing - just a slight touch of discomfort. When the doctor released his hands, Vincent let out a soft breath that he did not know he'd been holding and rubbed them slightly, feeling just how much pressure they could take before they hurt. There was still pain, yes, and the skin over the appendages was greenish-tinged and tender, but much of the bruising was gone already. That must have cost him a great deal, he mused silently, watching the other man's back as he shrugged on his heavy jacket once more.

He paused momentarily to listen to the Owen's recommendation, then shook his head. No, he didn't want to come back in; however, he would do so regardless, since it was suggested. "What you have done for me already is more than enough," he assured the hemokinetic, his voice slightly softer considering that from his tone the doctor was in a bit of pain. "However, I will return in a week's time so that you can be assured of my progress. Will that suffice?"

As the two walked to the lobby of the clinic once more, Vincent bowed his head gratefully to the man. "I thank you earnestly, Dr. Roberts," he stated, retrieving a slim case from his pocket and handing the other man a business card. "If there is something I can do for you, I can be reached here. I will also request my normal physician to contact you as well, for billing purposes and file updates. Thank you again, and take care."

[Dr. Owen Roberts]

"Honestly, Vincent, you don't need to please me." He said turning back to the man. He had managed to surpress the pain for now. He'd be fine with some asprin, water, and a good nights sleep. "I am only making recommendations. It's up to you whether you want to follow them or not. Whatever decision you make is your business. I'd love for you to come in, but I'm not demanding it at all." He was a little concerned that he had pushed a little too hard. He scribbled a few things down in Vincent's chart and escorted him out into the lobby.

"Thank you for coming in," He said. He took the business card, "I shouldn't have a reason to contact you, but I will if need be. Just rest a little bit and you should be back to your old self in no time!" He was glad to have helped. He just hoped that Lei wasn't the worse for wear. He knew the young boy struggled with his powers, so he was hoping that trainer knew what he was doing.

Owen waved as the man left. Shortly after he was out of sight, Owen's hand went to his head. He slunk into his office and quickly closed things up. It was time for him to go home and get rid of this headache.