And We All Fall Down (Tagged)

[Isla Hudson]

"Oh, well, it's a given that the nurses are the ones who do all the work!" Isla declared, as she examined the cut on his head again before warily starting to stitch it up. But once the first of the sutures was in she grew more confident...after all, one stitch or twelve, if she was caught she was toast!

"Of course, if you listen to my brother talk, paramedics are all that count, and the rest of us are just fluff!"

She did a few more of the stitched before adding, "The warehouses are a treasure-trove of obstacles -- docks, ladders, crates -- you just look at it and figure out how to improvise. That's half the fun, I think. But I only go there during the day, it's not bad if you stay alert."

She didn't mention that she had a conceal-carry permit that she took advantage of, not that she ever wanted to use it.

"So, what's your exciting hobby, if you're not into jumping off buildings? And street-brawling doesn't count as a hobby."

@fin

[Deleted]

“They do, totally underappreciated if you ask me and of course you’re a pro nurse doing all of this too.” Fin stated watching her but then she seemed to be doing brilliantly so far, if he had a scar it just added to his long list though he could see her confidence once the first one was done. See doctors had nothing on nurses, they were entirely fearless.

“Ha, yeah paramedics those guys a different breed entirely and no, the only ones who are fluff are doctors. Everyone else does their work for them.” He said though he knew he could hardly say too much about medics given he used to be the military version of one. Fin tried to keep still and not to wince any while she kept on stitching as he focused on what she was telling him about warehouses.

“You are far braver than me, ladders, crates and docks all things that I want to stay away from though jumping and running on them. You’re like superwoman in a nurse’s outfit.” Fin said smiling; she was far braver than he was as now heights when he could see outside were an issue. He was never that guy now who went to the edge of a roof willingly. Sure he had dangled a few people off some roofs but he hated every second of being up there.

“Oh wow now that’s a tough question if I can’t include street brawling.” Fin said with a sigh as he grinned, “I guess I get to be that boring guy who reads a lot though I do like football but that’s more down to my brother.” It was tough to explain family given he loathed his brother and loved him all at the same time. He guessed it was like any family but his family, it was complicated. “He used to play for the NFL before he changed careers but I do like a good game of football, mostly watching though.” He explained, “How about you, any other hobbies that you have? Beyond throwing yourself off benches and obstacles that are dangerous?”

Isla Hudson,

[Isla Hudson]

"Reading is fine, not many people do that much anymore..." Isla shrugged. "I think they get too caught up in things like youtube and Facebook and stuff, you know, just short little spurts of things."

She put the last knot in the cut on his forehead, then dabbed up extra blood. "Can't say I'm much of a football fan." She grinned. "I just watch it to goad my brother and root for the other team! I even get him presents with other team logos for him and pretend I thought it was the right team." It had been a long-standing joke with them, and Steven certainly found his way to get back at her.

"Besides jumping off buildings..." Shrugging, she started to work on the cut on his arm. "I really haven't had much time lately with school, work and clinicals, but now that I'm free of most of that I'd like to get back into my photography."

Gently cleaning around the laceration on his arm, she continued. "I've kind of dabbled in photography since I was a kid, started with 35mm, and really, I'm anxious to get back into it." Then she grinned and laughed. "Well, I just discovered zip-lining, too, I wouldn't mind combining that with the photography, some action shots, right?"

@fin
((Sorry it took so long, I thought I'd replied))

[Deleted]

“Youtube and facebook... no those are just...” Fin said as he decided not to go on his rant about media and of course the thing that everyone these days had to be on. “I still remember when post was a great form of communication and a telephone was high tech. This internet stuff is just, I prefer books. Something to hold and feel besides I’m not a fan of screens either.” He said feeling the last knot in the cut on his forehead.

“You sure you’re not a surgeon in your spare time?” Fin asked Isla smiling glad that she had helped him out. “Ouch you’re one mean sister to do that but amazing evil streak too so go Isla.” Fin said laughing, he was sure that if he did that to his brother it would cause a family feud or worse. “Football is more the one thing that we actually share a liking for, then again as the older one if we ever play then my brother always has to win. Not that he’s any good but you know older sibling stuff.” He said with a grin though if anything Fin was the awful one at football so pretending not to win was more a case of his pride would be hurt for being that bad at it.

He was an armchair football coach, yelling at the game when he thought he knew better and likely had no clue at all. “Photography huh, so what do you like taking photos of? Animals? Art? Buildings?” He asked her though she sounded like one busy woman, how she had time to throw herself off buildings was a good question. Again it was maybe safer that she was so busy in the end. Fin sucked in a breath as Isla cleaned around the laceration on his arm.

Fin sat there a little stunned by what she had said, was he being treated by Lara Croft Tomb Raider? “Well I would say out of all your hobbies the photography sounds like the safest one to try.” He said grinning as he laughed, “Zip-lining, you’re a woman of many talents but just hang on to the zip-line action shots are great as long as you can live to see them.” He said grinning at her though really she seemed like an action woman and one of the best at that.

Isla Hudson,
(It's okay there is no rush at all)

[Isla Hudson]

"Tombraider...I wish." She smiled a bit wistfully. "I always really wanted to be an archeologist, but I hate the heat, and most digs seem to be in the sun." She hoped that the idle chatter would distract him a little from what she was doing. "And I would have to be guaranteed that at least every few months I'd find something cool...and maybe even get to keep a few things...I mean, otherwise it would be pretty boring."

Not that she had thought she'd make a great discovery like King Solomon's Mines, but still, it would be a wonderfully great adventure to make a discovery.

"As for the photography, I prefer scenery, things that are...artsy?" She shrugged. "Not too much into portrait kinds of things, but I do like to take pictures of...well, quirky people, too, you know, colorful people..." She laughed, "But not in a Walmart sort of way!"

She put the finishing touches on his arm. "You should come zip-lining with me some time." As soon as she said it, she sort of regretted it -- she didn't really know him -- but the offer was out there and besides, it was a public venue, so what harm could there be? "I mean, you can't possibly scream as much like a girl as my brother did!"

@fin

[Deleted]

Fin chuckled as he nodded. Archaeologist was a great dream to have, after seeing the Indiana Jones movies he wanted to have that job of trekking through a jungle, finding all the items that had been lost forever all the while battling snakes and bugs an wining the woman at the end of the day. Fin was entirely distracted from what she was doing as he grinned. “Oh of course you cannot leave with nothing in that job and the heat can be an issue. Snakes, bugs, giant rock boulders... maybe Chicago is a little safer but I am sure you would make a lot of finds.”

Judging by how good she was at being a nurse and taking that extra leap of stitching him up too. There was no doubt in his mind that she would make that once in a life time find, a huge diamond or a treasure trove of lost goods. “Scenery works better you’re right and there is a lot of beautiful scenery around the city too. The buildings, parks and further outside it too I guess it is just finding that in the lens of a camera.” He said grinning at her. “Colourful people well you cannot beat them but glad you’re staying away from the Walmart sort of way or I will have to change where I shop in my pink tutu.” He said chuckling.

If ever there was a day you had spare it was always interesting to take a wonder around Walmart and see what was going on there. At times it was a case of had to be seen to be believed. Finlay laughed when she spoke about how her brother screamed like a girl. “Really he did that? In front of his sister?” He asked not sure who her brother was but guys had to keep reputations of being tough. “Zip-lining sounds fun, though how high are we talking here? A few feet or higher?” He asked as heights, too high and he was sure he would be joining her brother in the screaming like a girl phase.

Isla Hudson,

[Isla Hudson]

“Colourful people well you cannot beat them but glad you’re staying away from the Walmart sort of way or I will have to change where I shop in my pink tutu.”

"Oh, man, I didn't mean to make you change your shopping habits." Isla laughed as she pictured him in the garb, flitting around the aisles, shopping for cat toys!

“Really he did that? In front of his sister?”

"Huh? Did I say that?" Putting on her best 'innocent' look, she shook her head. "You didn't hear that from me, and I'll deny every word!" Steven would have her head if he knew she'd tattled on him, but then, chances of him ever meeting Fin were pretty slim, so she was safe.

“Zip-lining sounds fun, though how high are we talking here? A few feet or higher?”

"Oh, yeah, just a couple feet, you have to bend your knees up so your legs don't drag." Grinning, she shook her head again. "No, silly, it's up...maybe a hundred feet? But it's so much fun you don't even notice, especially with your eyes closed!"

Neatly wrapping a white gauze bandage around his arm, she put on the final touches the pulled off her gloves.

"Really, you should be seen by a doctor...disclaimer, could have bleeding in the head, concussion, wounds could get infected..." That was it, what she had to say, otherwise, he was a big boy and could make his own decisions.

"So, that's that...stay out of fights, avoid hitting your head...all that..."

And now what?

@fin

[Deleted]

Fin laughed as he nodded, “Well I cannot have that caught on camera for evidence so I might need a new store to go to. Just to be on the safe side. Fin was that shopper who was always in the DIY isle for most things that seemed innocuous though to him cable ties and ropes were hardly for a projected or anything house related. His usual next stop was the health care isle for his usual stock ups on remedies that required no hospital treatment.

Laughing when she ousted her brother rather deliberately he had to be amused by that. “Oh my lips are sealed though he must be something if he is screaming for that. Nothing against your brother but I would have thought he would have been the tough guy in front of you.” Fin said pretty sure that in front of his brother, if the world was ending he would still be stood there telling him it would be okay simply because he could do nothing else.

Fin nodded thinking a few feet sounded okay with him, he could survive that fall from grace. “A hundred feet... yeah I think I’d notice that even with my eyes closed. Are you an adrenaline junkie of some kind?” He asked her grinning, honestly heights terrified him one of the few things in life that did but he would rather laugh about it. Fin could completely understand her brothers screaming now, Fin was sure he would be doing the exact same if he was thrown on a zip line like that.

“Hey doctors are well, not as good as nurses and you’ve fixed me up great so thank you.” He said knowing the risks involved though sure she had a point with staying out of fights. “I will do my best to be a lot more careful around this city. Though I can’t make promises about my head at all.” He joked as he grinned at her. “So were you finishing shift when I dragged you away from the garage?” He asked her deciding that he could at least be nice to her and attempt to repay her for risking her job to fix him up.

Isla Hudson,

[Isla Hudson]

"Not really an adrenaline junkie per sae," Isla shrugged, "just, since JerkFace, I like to push myself, test myself...not going to let that kind of thing happen again, and getting confidence helps that."

She smiled as he made the comment about nurses over doctors, commenting, "Well, wait until I've been a nurse for more than a week!" Provided this never got out and she lost her license. "And yeah, at the end of a twelve hour graveyard shift...looking forward to coffee and bed...not that a little patching up was an inconvenience..."

Shrugging again, she smiled, not wanting him to feel like he'd put her out, not that this was something common. But besides the fact that she shouldn't have done it at all, she didn't mind the time it had taken.

@fin,

[Deleted]

“I’m glad to hear it and I am sure that you are not one to be messed with at all.” Fin say grinning, “Any woman who can jump over park benches and from buildings has my complete and total respect. But I’m sure JerkFace will get what is owed to him, people like that usually do.” Ironic sure given that he spent his time hitting others who chose not to pay to only get his back for the pleasure of it. So he could talk from a certain experience.

“Wait so you’re not a nurse?” Fin questioned wondering just who had stitched him up. Then again he was stitched up so he was thankful for that and the effort she put in to it. “Well thank you for stitching me up but you know, if you’re looking for coffee it would be the least I could do for you?” He offered not wanting her to think he was being ungrateful for all she had done for him.

As much of a risk it was for him, she had risked her job which was a lot more. “Could even throw in pancakes too if you were hungry. I know what long shifts can do to people though I do not miss those days one bit.” He said knowing when he had been army, watch had been a nightmare. Rain, sun, snow or any of the random seasons. Sitting up for twelve hours trying to fix people up, there were parts of that when he enjoyed just being home and not having a worry about it. At the same time he missed doing his job and the one he knew best.

Isla Hudson,

[Isla Hudson]

"I am a nurse, just a new one," Isla pointed out, "and book-learning is only a small part of it, really, it's a small foundation...putting it all together and into practice..."

Well, that was something that anyone who had any good sense in a field like this knew, and if you weren't willing to admit that, as a new clinician, you still had a lot to learn, you were setting yourself up for trouble.

"Anyway, coffee sounds good, and pancakes, too." She smiled, knowing she probably shouldn't, and that Steven was going to have a hissy-fit -- if he found out! But really, where was the harm, they would be in public, so he couldn't do anything, and besides, he was a really nice guy and she was kind of hating herself for being worried at all.

"So, do you have a place in mind? I can follow you..." Then it dawned on her that she really wasn't sure how he'd gotten here. "You have a car? You can ride with me..."

After all, it would be rude to back out now.

@fin,

[Deleted]

“Then thank you for letting me be one of your first new patients then.” Fin said grinning at her. “Well you’ve done great here today and if that is anything to go by, then a lot of people here are in safe hands. Just keep up with the practical, nothing can beat on the job experience and even when it seems like the worst day, just keep your chin up.”

Fin knew from experience that textbooks and classrooms could only teach so much. The real world was messy, loud and distracting. Even down to patients talking, people in pain said things and worse people that knew they were likely not to make it. Those were the ones where a smile, a laugh and everything will be okay counted most. Never show what was on the inside, only the outside reassuring smile that over the years became well practiced and much easier to put on.

Fin nodded and smiled glad that she had agreed to it, simply as a thank you for everything she had done. “Yeah there’s a place a few blocks from here that has great pancakes, coffee is okay but the food is fantastic.” Fin explained as he glanced at his car. “If you want to ride with me then that’s fine and you can tell someone here that I would drop you off back here for your car too if that made a difference?” He offered knowing how things might appear.

“Or if you’re happy enough I can ride with you, it’s a short walk back here anyway so either option is fine with me. What are you more comfortable with? Or we can just go separately.” Fin asked her, yes he had practically asked her for help. Had her do something that was against all the rules so the least he could do was let her chose what she wanted to. He wanted her to feel comfortable after all meeting on the floor of the car park hardly instilled confidence if he was viewing things from her side.

Isla Hudson,

[Isla Hudson]

"Um, Um, well, you can ride with me, sure." Smiling, Isla shrugged. She really wasn't comfortable getting into his car, so this was a friendly option...after all, you never knew, and at least she maintained some control in her own car. "It's new...well, for me."

Quickly, she straightened up the room, explaining. "It used to be my brother's, but he decided that he wanted me out of my death-trap Kia...bought me a '15 Mustang, but then I traded him." She grinned. "He deserves a nicer car, and his Tarus is fine for me."

Once the room was back in shape, she led the way to the parking lot. "He wouldn't let me paint it pink, though," she joked with a laugh, "but he did allow the Princess antenna ball!"

Nodding to the car, topped by a pink Mickey with a glittery silver crown. "That's the one! You're not going to be embarrassed being seen in a chick-car, are you?" Then she rolled her eyes. "Steven would have apoplexy if he heard me call his precious Tarus that!"

@fin,

[Deleted]

Fin smiled and nodded at Isla when she said he could ride with her. “Thank you and I swear I will be a best behaved passenger.” He said trying to put her mind at ease. Fin knew that being comfortable with someone else in the car was a huge thing, he hated having to have someone unknown in his own car as you never knew what might happen.

“I can appreciate that, driving a Kia in this city... what were you thinking?” He asked her grinning. “You traded the Mustang for a Tarus?” Fin asked her wanting to make sure she meant an actual car and not a toy one as he gave her a stare that said she had to be mad. “You had a Kia, if anyone deserves the nicer car it’s you but a Tarus is at least reliable.” He added as he had nothing against that car at all.

Fin followed Isla to the parking lot as he laughed before he winced, not his finest idea given what hurt but then it was funny to think of. “A pink Tarus now that would be something to see but the Princess Antenna ball, I cannot wait to see this car of yours.” He said smiling as he saw where she nodded to.

“Wow you were really serious huh.” He said chuckling, “It looks great but I think the glitter would stand out more if it were pink. Makes it a one in a million then.” He offered as he shook his head. “No not at all, chick-car or not it looks great to me and he sounds like he needs to lighten up a little. It’s your car now, Chick-car all the way.” He added grinning.

Isla Hudson,

[Isla Hudson]

As she unlocked the doors, Isla shrugged, explaining, "The Kia was because I was a starving student, and my budget sucked." She chuckled a little. "But then my brother finally insisted I get rid of it, and he bought me the Mustang, and..." her nose wrinkled up, "it's an awesome car, but it was his money, and this nice Taurus is fine for me...and with the new job I'll be able to afford to get something else soon anyway."

There was another shrug. "Steven does so much for us, he took over after Dad died, he protected me from JerkFace...it's the least I can do for him."

As she settled into the driver's seat, she glanced at him. "Buckle up...girl driver, you know!" She mashed in the clutch and gunned the engine.