Dr. Sun was relieved when Curie showed up. His workload suddenly decreased, and he found it easier to give more specialized attention to each patient. He couldn’t help but feel slightly jealous of her superior abilities, but she was taught medicine before the war, while he made do with being his grandfather’s assistant. It was no secret she was a synth, and he got the patients who didn’t want her. Those patients normally found themselves needing less med-x than the ones who didn’t mind who treated them.

The good doctor dragged himself out of bed from the first half decent rest he was able to fit in since the attack on the city. Before it was two or three hours when he could fit them in. The fact that Ms. Halcombe was on the opposite side of the city wasn’t helpful. An hour of sleep lost was better than losing a patient if he could help it, even if he was developing large bags under his eyes and was starting to sway every time he stood still.

He found Curie waiting for him at the outdoor section of his hospital where he worked before Doctor Crocker’s death. The woman was cleaning a cut near Sheng Kowalski’s left eye.

“The injury looks mostly superficial,” she informed him. “But we do not have the resources to fully heal it. You will have to keep the cut clean to avoid infection, and let the injury heal on its own. You will have a bruise for a few weeks.”

“That’s okay,” Sheng insisted in his salesman tone. “I will consider it a mark of her love. Come by my shop later, I’ll give you a good discount as a thanks.” He handed Curie some caps and hurried off to his house, most likely to peddle his purified water.

Doctor Sun walked up to Curie before lighting a cigarette. It felt good to have a moment to smoke.

“Oh, non! Doctor Sun, you mustn’t ruin your health by smoking!”

He looked at the synth for a moment before putting out his cigarette. He’ll get another one later. At least she knew how to pronounce his name.

“Are you sure about this arrangement?” he asked her.

“Oui. There is no reason for both of us to look in on her, and you need your rest.”

Ms. Perkins was sitting at Power Noodles, most likely enjoying her breakfast. When she saw them, she stood up from her food and was greeted by them.

“Nick said she’s still sleeping almost constantly. He said he’ll wake her up as soon as we arrive. I’ve notified Mayor Hancock already; he’ll be waiting to find out.”

With a quick stop at Power Noodles for Ms. Perkins to purchase a bowl for Marian, the three of them made their way to the Valentine Detective Agency. Mr. Valentine was at his desk but looked up as they entered. Ms. Perkins closed the door behind the two doctors while Mr. Valentine stood as a sign of respect.

“She’s still asleep, I’ll go get her,” he said with a shake in his voice.

“We don’t have to make her decide now,” Ms. Perkins told him. “She can barely walk; can’t we wait until she’s a bit better?”

Mr. Valentine looked sad for a moment. “No, Ellie,” he said quietly. “I didn’t kidnap her. She should be allowed to decide what she wants. Even if it…well even if it does kill her.” With that, he disappeared into the bedroom area of the house.

Dr Sun wanted to wait at least a few days. It seemed like a waste of his work if she managed to get herself killed before she was healthy. But Mr. Valentine insisted. He claimed he didn’t want her to feel forced to stay somewhere she didn’t want to stay. Dr Sun couldn’t argue with this compromise. Even he knew that he couldn’t tie anyone down if they didn’t want to get healed.

Soon the detective reappeared, helping a ragged-looking Marian Halcombe walk. She looked up at the people in room and her eyes widened for a second. Dr Sun had gotten used to Ms. Halcombe noticing things most other people didn’t. She didn’t seem to have her usual level of awareness, but that was understandable in this situation.

“Is there something wrong?” She asked no one in particular.

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“No, Sweetheart,” Mr. Valentine insisted. “There are just some things we need to go over. That’s all.”

“It’s okay,” she said, “seems like all I’ve been doing is sleeping.” Her voice sounded hollow, like she wasn’t getting all the air she needed. Doctor Sun made a mental note to keep tabs on her lungs and make sure she didn’t get an infection.

Mr. Valentine helped lower her into the most comfortable chair in the room, before moving it so that the chair faced the area in front of the desks. He then gently squeezed her arm before standing off to the side where he could see everyone, and everyone could see him.

Curie descended on the miserable form almost immediately, giving Ms. Halcombe her morning checkup. Ellie had made her way to her usual chair and was watching everyone with quiet attention. Doctor Sun decided that he might as well start the conversation.

“Ms. Halcombe,” he began. “I’m sure you are aware of the trials that multiple people have gone through to help save your life.”

Her movements became jerky. She was obviously trying to make eye contact without interrupting her checkup. Instead, she talked to Curie.

“I have been told some details,” she agreed. “I understand that I was legally supposed to die?”

“The official policy was that the life saving medicines you needed were only for the members of the Diamond City guard. I do not believe that it was out of malice for you, but a way to disperse the medicines as they were needed.” He neglected to mention that she was allowed enough med-x to be comfortable. There were some people who were only allowed enough med-x for a comfortable death. Some people weren’t even allowed that.

She opened her mouth for a moment like she was going to talk and closed it again. Curie had finished her exam and stood next to Doctor Sun. Ms. Halcombe looked at Mr. Valentine for a moment as if she were hoping he would tell her what to say before making eye contact with Doctor Sun. “Where are you going with this?” she finally asked.

“The problem is you being alive and awake puts us all in a difficult position.”

“Because if anyone finds out you broke the law to save me, everyone who the authorities suspect can be punished. I hadn’t thought of that.”

“That’s because you couldn’t have known,” Mr. Valentine spoke up. “You didn’t break any laws by living, Doll, we chose to break the law for you. Don’t blame yourself.”

Doctor Sun was caught off guard by the interruption. “Yes, well, be that as it may, we are at your mercy.”

Ms. Holcombe’s eye contact was breaking more and more consistently. Her voice was starting to slow down as well. She needed sleep, but they needed to tell her this information first.

“I understand,” she said breathily. “So, you need me to sneak out of the city before anyone finds out.”

“Oh, non!” Curie cried. “You are much to weak for that. We just need you to stay hidden.”

“I don’t want to be a burden,” Ms. Halcombe said.

“You’re not a burden, on anyone!” Mr. Valentine said quickly and forcefully. “We don’t mind looking out for you, but you need to know why we need you to stay here. Ellie and I will make sure you have everything you need while you stay here.”

“Yafim and I have set up a plan where Curie and Doctor Sun will let me know how healthy you should be,” Ellie announced mispronouncing Dr Sun’s name. “As your progress is supposed to improve, Vadim will gossip about that. That way people will think you’re healing slower than you actually are.”

“And Doctor Sun and I will continue to visit you until you are officially healthy. I will come in the evenings and him in the mornings.” Curie told her. “You will be taken care of until you are strong enough to survive the Wasteland.”

Her eyes shifted until she was looking at the ceiling over Doctor Sun and Curie. It was a disturbing gesture that Doctor Sun normally saw when someone was told they couldn’t go outside anymore.

“This is not a prison sentence,” Doctor Sun announced, remembering all the patients he had who had compared an indoor stay to such a thing. “Other settlements will not hold anyone liable for what has happened while you recover. If you would prefer recovery somewhere else, then we will be willing to help sneak you out of the city and to the settlement of your choice.”

“I don’t think Hancock would mind a visit,” she said slowly.

“Mayor Hancock has already agreed to taking care of you if you want,” Ms. Perkins chimed in. “But that’s only if you want to go to Goodneighbor. He said he wouldn’t be upset if you stayed here.”

Her eyes were closing for longer periods of time, here head kept sagging forward. She needed her sleep. “Can I think about it?”

“Of course,” Mr. Valentine answered. “You can stay here as long as you need to. If you change your mind, let me know. I’ll do what I can to help you get where you’re going.”

“Thank you,” she said.

The two doctors decided to take that as a sign that the conversation was over. Doctor Sun walked past Mr. Valentine to the door. As he was opening it, he saw Curie leaning over Ms. Halcombe.

“I will see you this evening,” she promised before following him out the door.

“Do you need help getting to bed?” Mr. Valentine was saying as the door closed.

Curie smiled at Doctor Sun. “It is so nice to see love blossoming,” she said. “I hope she stays with him!”

Doctor Sun tried to maintain his professional detachment. He was more concerned with other people’s heath than gossip. Yet, he knew that people tended to do better when someone they cared about was around. If she stayed, that would mean more work for him. It was still better if she stayed, even with the strict restrictions on them, she couldn’t get better care anywhere in the Commonwealth. He needed to get to work. Maybe he could sneak in a cigarette when Curie wasn’t looking.