“Captain Westerly, your tags.”

“Thank you.” Luke says stiffly, and drops them unceremoniously over his head. This latest hospital visit has been added to the third tag, with no identifying symbol, marking it as just a check up. Which it had been, once he’d woken up from the Logan-induced sleep.

He’s dressed and ready to go, but Dr. Morgan wants to check his temperature one last time. He accepts the glass thermometer reluctantly, and sticks it under his tongue. Crossing his eyes, he can see the mercury slowly climbing upwards from room temperature. He hopes the good doctor remembers that his body temperature is naturally lower; otherwise they’ll probably try to shove him back into that ridiculously uncomfortable bed.

Rolling his shoulders, he can hear his bones creaking even over the smooth sound of his leather jacket moving with him. Reason two hundred and forty-three he hates hospitals: no matter how hard they try, the beds always suck.

“Done yet?” He says thickly, the apparently unsettling effect of his eyes boring into Morgan’s offset by how ridiculous he sounds.

“Few more seconds. Sometimes these things take a little while to warm up.”

Luke crosses his eyes again, squinting to see how far the mercury’s gotten. “No, that’s about right.” He says, and plucks the thermometer out of his mouth. “92 degrees. Not too shabby. The jacket probably helped a little.”

Morgan sighs, and takes the thermometer in a gloved hand when offered.

“Can I go now?”

“If you must. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you to dress warmly and stay dry?”

Luke stares, and Morgan sighs again.

“Go.” He says, with a wave of his hand, and Luke doesn’t need to be told twice.

Previous: Scene 4-IV

Scene 4-V

Next: Scene 4-VI