Fallout(Videogames)

The Good Doctor

Arcade made a path through the crowd so there was room for Boone and Paula-Jean as they entered the old Mormon fort. Boone was carrying Paula-Jean in his arms, his eyes trained on Arcade so as not to lose him in the crowd of people wearing white lab coats. Arcade lead them back to a tent near the back of the fort where they were greeted by a man who looked similar to Arcade.

"Grayson, we need help," Arcade said, gesturing to Boone and Paula-Jean.

"What happened," Grayson asked, his English accent unusual in the Mojave. Boone laid Paula-Jean out on the bed and stepped away, absently trying to wipe the blood from his shirt.

"We got ambushed by a legion hit squad about an hour ago," Boone said, keeping his eyes on his wounded friend. He himself had suffered several injuries, but none as life threatening as Paula-Jean's.

"How long has she been unconscious," Grayson asked, kneeling next to the bed and checking her vitals.

"She passed out just as we entered Freeside. So about three minutes ago." Grayson looked up at Boone, noticing the fresh blood dripping down his fingers.

"She's in good hands," he assured, "you need medical attention. I will see to Miss Ellis." Boone spared one last look at Paula-Jean and nodded curtly before following Arcade to another tent.

Paula-Jean woke up the next morning with enough med-x in her system that the pain in her side was barely a thought. She sat up and threw her legs over the side of the bed, her boots kicking up a little dust. She ran a hand through her hair, taking a deep breath. She looked up when a blond man in a white lab coat entered the tent. He looked up from the clipboard in his hands with a wide, toothy smile.

"Good morning," he said, tucking the clipboard under his arm. "And how are you feeling?"

"Who are you," Paula-Jean asked, and Grayson smiled, offering his hand out to her as he crossed the tent to her.

"My name is Grayson," he said, as Paula-Jean looked down at his hand with contempt, but Grayson didn't seem to care. "I'm the one who patched up your side there. I mean, I'm not auto-doc," he laughed, "but I'm still proud of my handiwork." Paula-Jean placed her hand on her side, feeling the tightness of a proper bandage, taking a deep breath.

"How did I get here? Where are Boone and Arcade?" Paula Jean tried to stand up, but Grayson put his hand on her shoulder, pushing her back down onto the bed.

"They brought you in after a legion raid, they said. They're both still here in the fort somewhere. Boone needed medical attention and I'm sure Arcade wa-"

"Why don't I remember any of that," Paula-Jean asked, and Grayson shrugged, sitting down in a chair next to the bed.

"Traumatic events can cause temporary amnesia, but it should all come back with time. I did see some trauma to your frontal lobe when I did the brai-"

"I got shot in the head a while back," she said, her fingers automatically going to the scar on her forehead, normally hidden by her bandanna.

"And that explains that," Grayson said, standing from the chair. "I'll go let your friends know that you're awake. You're free to go, but it is my professional opinion that you remain here another night at least, so I can keep an eye on your recovery." Paula-Jean sat silently for a moment before nodding.

"Fine. Could you tell them to head back to the Lucky 38? I'll meet up with them in the morning." Grayson nodded and headed for the tent door.

"Of course Miss Ellis. I'll be back later to check on you." Paula-Jean nodded and laid back down, closing her eyes. Grayson closed the tent flap, going to search out Boone and Arcade to relay the message.

A few hours later, Paula-Jean was pacing around the tent, testing how far she could push her injury. She climbed up onto the chair next to the bed and jumped down just as the tent flap opened. She let out a hiss of pain and the doctor frowned.

"You should be taking it easy, Miss Ellis," he said, holding out a bottle of clean water and an old bag of potato chips that promised to be stale. Paula-Jean hesitated before taking the provisions.

"I have a job to do," Paula-Jean said, cracking open the water, taking a drink. "I can't be laying around doing nothing." Grayson laughed and shook his head.

"Right now, it's my job to make sure you get better, Miss Ellis, and that takes precedence over your job right now."

"Paula-Jean," she said curtly, earning a slightly confused look from Grayson. "No one calls me Miss Ellis except for House. It's Paula-Jean." Grayson chuckled and folded his arms over his chest.

"How about PJ," he asked, earning a glare from Paula-Jean. He quickly raised his hands in defense. "Alright, Paula-Jean, I'm sorry. How is your hip feeling?"

"Like I'm leaving," she said, grabbing her things off the table. She paused the door and glanced back at the doctor. "I'll bring back all the supplies I used as well as anything extra I can find." With that, she left, heading for the Lucky 38 to reunite herself with her companions.