ways_infirmary | (no subject)

A Catherine's there. Not overly pleased.

"I love you," she says without preamble, "but sometimes you really are an idiot."

Hank's head meets desk as he sighs.

"Yes. I really can be somedays."

Of course they are probably not quite talking about the same thing, but maybe they are. He looks up at her and sighs.

"Hi."

"Hi." She doesn't make a move towards him. "What kind of cures were you offering?"

He shakes his ehad.

"I wasnt offering cures to anything. I mistakenly thought sitting out there and giving people a chance to get medical assiatnce with symptoms, not a cuyre, but symptomatic assiatnce, would be a good idea. I soon discovered it was a bad one. The drugs I was offering were from my own universe and I have done extensive tests and have a great deal of experience with interuniversal reaction. The specifics of the drugs were that they were spoecially designed, to help relieve tension, pain, bloating, reduce muscle cramping, and relax the cramped muscles from pain and tension."

He sighs. His voice is hoarse and tired and it shows.

"It was a dumb was to try to help people, and I know it now."

"It's not a dumb move to try and help people and you know it." Catherine sighs quietly, crosses the room to kneel by his seat. "Hank--you're a genius, you always be, but sometimes you have to assume someone else knows more about how to handle things than you do."

"That wasnt why I did it... I thought I could help people. And I have done so before in other settings. But soemtimes, I forget I am not at the X-Mansion where evberyone knew me and knew I knew what was wrong and was trying to help, and if I screwed up, tjhey just told me so, instead of yelling at me for a half hour as if I am a child. I messed up in doing it the way I did it. I wasnt trying to tell people they didnt know how to take care of themselves, I was just...trying to help."

He rubs his forehead.

"Honestly, Catherine, I am sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings out there or pissed anyone off. I just... I dont know."

She covers her hand with his, rests it there. "Lay low for a couple of days." Her voice is like a hand rubbing against his cheek, like a kiss to his forehead. "And then find Veronica and everyone else--and apologize."

He nods.

"I have no trouble apologizing to Veronica. Ace? Not a chance. But Veronica and the others I saw, definitely. Er... what does Veronica think I did? The conversation I had with her was... very strange."

He looks at her quizzically.

"Why won't you apologize to Ace?"

His eyes flash for a miknute, then he just looks tired again.

"Because while the conversation started similarly to Veronica's it turned into Ace accusing me of offering dangerous substances to people, and committing malpractice, and being a dangerous nut masquerading as a doctor. At at least one point in the conversation there were threats from her side to go to Bernard and try to get me banned from practicing here or anywhere else. She apparently had some medical knowledge and maybe even a lot of it, but when I tried to explain the nature of the medication i had, she went off and wouldnt listen, insisting I was wrong, or lying, or an idiot."

He sighs.

"I am going to be avoiding her as much as possible. I dont want trouble, and she obviously does."

She's shaking her head slowly. "You still owe her an apology, Hank. She owes you one but you owe her one, too."

"I'm willing to apologize to her for putting the set up out there and insulting anyone I did by doing so and by thinking I was in the right by offering things the way I did and making people feel like I thought they were stupid. But that is it. I didnt do anything else to apologize for."

he shrugs.

"Not that I know of..."

He rubs his forehead.

"I am sorry if you got caught in the middle at all."

"Just talk to her, Hank. When neither of you say anything nothing changes."

At his last, there's a twist in her mouth but she doesn't comment.

He nods, then, after watching her for a long moment.

"okay."

He looks at her and gently touches her face.

"I am sorry if what I did insults ytou too, you know? I am sorry if it... in anyway made you think I dont respect you or your judgement."

He smiles softly.

"There is no one I respect more."

She draws a long breath, shakes her head with a slight smile. "Considering you and your complete and utter lack of common sense, that doesn't make me feel much better."

She's kidding. Really. Even if there's still a strain around her eyes.

He winces a bit and nods, perhapos catching the humor, perhaps still taking it as a note.

"How are you doing?"

His hand gently traces her cheeks, then down to her neck. His smile might be a bit strained too, but it is there.

"I'm tired," she says softly, catching his hand. "I want to go to bed with you and sleep."

He nods, a smile, even more genuine, flashing across his tired face.

"Me too. That sounds... like a wonderful idea."

He rises and turns off the small computer on the desk.

"Lead on."

She shuts off the lights as they leave his office, looking back over her shoulder for a moment before closing the door behind her.

[ooc: and fade?]

(ooc: fade is good)

At some point a note arrives, carried by one of the waitrats because Guppy has long since gone to bed by now.

'Hank,
I'd trust you with my life. And indeed have and would again. Probably doesn't make you feel much better but I'll stand by you if you get into trouble, I promise.
Guppy
P.s. Ace can't stand me either, although that's my fault.