Page 38 of Family Found

“Yes, unless you need to rest? I can have some tea brought while you help.”

I didn’t get to tell him I didn’t need tea. He managed to get a nurse’s attention faster, and the nurse, clearly not thrilled, got us tea and delivered it with a mildly scathing comment in Gesango’s direction.

Gesango did most of the actual work, but he stopped to ask about words, which he then wrote down in a small notebook, asking me to check the spelling. I learned a couple new words in Lugarra too.

When he explained what he was trained for, I told him he was probably a surgeon in human terms and his tools were surgeon’s tools—and yes, I accidentally called them a serial killer murder kit at first, given there were all those sharp and pointy bits.

In the end, after asking me about what he might have easy access to on Earth, Gesango reduced the amount of bandages and gauze he’d planned on taking and shifted toward medicines instead.

“It’s smart that you keep bandages in cars.” He made an approving noise. “We should do that here.”

I finished the rest of my tea and closed the lid on a box with bandages. “You can totally steal that idea.”

He hummed. “I will write a note to the visdena.”

I cackled. “I brought safety rules to Aër.”

He pulled what looked like syringes from a shelf. “Maybe the Raiken can bring a good rule to Earth in exchange.”

I looked over his shoulder as he stowed away the syringes in a different box. “I like that rule about hangua treating hangua. You know, after abuse.”

He tilted his head. “That’s a very small thing. It’s not even a rule we have, just something healers know to do when we can. It’s not always an option in the field, of course.”

“That makes sense. I totally think you’re nice enough to treat hangua, even the ones who’ve gone through…you know. All of what they went through.” I handed him satchels that went into a woven basket, and some type of medicine that was to fight infection. I’d told him we might consider them antibiotics.

He clicked. “That’s a kind thing to say, Rory. But when it is not an emergency, and when qualified hangua doctors are there, it’s still best hangua treat hangua. It’s what abused hangua have always said and confirmed in the past.”

“Oh, right.”

I felt silly. No, worse, ignorant. I wasn’t a hangu, not really, and I’d never been abused, as Gesango put it, so I really shouldn’t have had an opinion here. I was glad Vergis hadn’t heard, or he’d never have let me forget it. Not that I was going to forget it. “Respect hangua’s opinions” was easy enough, after all.

The door to the storage room opened, and Kinnek poked his head inside. His silvery white strands were growing out noticeably. He looked tired, but also…relieved, more than just relieved. Someone he’d thought had died had come back to him.

He smiled at me. “Oh, you’re here, sweet pea. Did you get lost?”

Well, okay. First Luëris, now Kinnek. I was clearly still considered incapable of fending for myself, never mind that I’d done it for two years. Really, that wasn’t so bad though, given that I had no plans whatsoever to fend for myself ever again, thank you very much.

“Just helping out Gesango here while everyone else is busy. Are you okay?” I went to Kinnek to hug him. I wasn’t used to touchy-feely things like that, but it felt right, and Kinnek hugged me back.

He clicked a few times. “I am, sweet pea, I am. A while back, Charles told me what wonderful weapons the little wheels on office chairs make. I never thought that knowledge would come in handy, but it did.” He grinned. “I caved in a Koa Esher’s skull with one.”

He patted my back and didn’t push me away. Stupidly, that made me start crying, because it was real now. Kinnek was back, but he’d been gone, and he’d been in a dangerous situation, so close to getting seriously hurt that it made my head spin. He might be in a place to joke about office chair parts, but I wasn’t. He’d managed to free all the other hangua by himself. He was the best.

“If you hadn’t sent Zeddira through the veils…” I was mumbling, dribbling snot. He’d also effectively saved Zeddira’s life. I’d just been there to finish what he’d started. Kinnek really was the real hero here.

“I know, sweet chocolate bar, I know. But it’s fine now. We’re all fine.”

Gesango came over and clicked. “Is the human well?” He sounded concerned. It couldn’t be a good look for a doctor to have frail little human me cry after helping him pack up supplies.

“Oh, he will be in a moment. He just needs a good cry. Humans cry a lot when their emotions get high. I was told it makes it easier for them to handle them that way, although I’m not sure how that works. It doesn’t mean they’re hurting, necessarily. You are the healer coming with us, correct?”

I pulled back from Kinnek, but he kept stroking my back. He looked so much younger now, and I was just relieved that he was being calm, not making fun of me, and letting me have this moment. I was so effing happy he was here, and that he was okay.

Gesango made an affirmative clicking noise. “I am. Do you need anything?”

Kinnek sighed. “My…Aragis. He doesn’t want to stay here, although he should, at least for a few more days. But he refuses. You’ll have to look after him, and I was hoping I could introduce you first.”

His accent, which was barely noticeable normally, came on stronger. He was speaking human for my benefit, then. That made me sniffle all over again, which prompted him to stroke my back.