“If your symptoms get worse or if you develop a fever, come back immediately.Don’t wait.”Palmer wrote down the instructions on a piece of paper and handed it to Twig.“And even if they don’t get worse, I’d like you to come back in three days so I can check on you again.I’d also like to do a pregnancy test.”
“Yeah, that’s not necessary.I haven’t been fertile lately, but even if I had been, I’d need a partner to get pregnant.I’ll come back in three days, though,” Twig said, taking the paper.He stood up, looking more relaxed than when he’d arrived.“Thank you, Palmer.I really appreciate it.”
“Of course.Take care of yourself, Twig.”
Twig smiled, then hesitated at the entrance.“Rune talks about you, you know.He thinks you’re impressive.”
Before Palmer could respond, Twig was gone, leaving Palmer standing there with his notepad and a strange flutter in his chest that he absolutely didnotwant to examine too closely.
He shook his head and returned to his desk, flipping to a fresh page in his notepad.He wrote down everything Twig had told him about his symptoms and the fatigue, nausea, and muscle aches.It seemed minor, but Palmer had learned early in his career that minor symptoms could sometimes be the first sign of something more serious.He didn’t want to overlook anything, especially not with a dragon patient.There was still so much he didn’t know about their physiology.There was a chance that Twig might be pregnant, but Palmer would have to trust Twig that he wasn’t.If that was the problem, they’d find out soon enough.
Palmer felt he could dismiss that possibility, though.He’d need to go back to the library, maybe ask Rune for help finding books on common dragon ailments.The thought of working with Rune again didn’t bother him as much as it had a few days ago.In fact, he found himself almost looking forward to it.
But first, he had research to do.He owed it to Twig—and to all his patients.
* * * *
RUNE CHECKED HIS PHONEagain.He’d been texting on and off with Twig, and he was a little worried because his brother was sick.He’d told him to go to the infirmary and see a healer, but Twig was stubborn.Rune wasn’t sure he’d gone, and he wanted to be sure that his brother would be okay.
He was relieved when he saw a text from Twig on his screen, but that relief went right out the window when he read what his brother had written.
I went to the infirmary, but I actually feel even worse now.I thought you said your boyfriend was a good healer?
Rune frowned.You talked to Palmer?he texted back.
Twig was quick to answer.Yeah, he looked me over.He gave me some meds to take and told me to rest.
Did you follow his orders?
To the letter.
Really?
It took Twig a moment longer to answer this time.When he did, Rune could almost hear his sheepish tone.
Okay, maybe I didn’t rest enough.
What did you do?
My friend wanted to go flying.
That’s the opposite of resting, Twig.Rune huffed at his brother.If he was going to scold him, he wanted to make sure that Twig was listening to him.He hit the call button.
“Okay, maybe going flying wasn’t a good idea,” Twig said when he answered.
“You don’t say?Palmer told you to rest, and you went flying instead.Of course you’re not feeling better.”
“I didn’t think I was going to feelworse.”
“There’s a reason he told you to rest, you idiot.What are you doing now?”
“I’m on my couch.I promise Iamresting this time.”
“You better be, and don’t complain about Palmer because it’s your own fault that you’re still feeling sick.”
“I know,” Twig muttered.
Rune resisted the urge to roll his eyes, mostly because he was in the dining hall and he didn’t want people to see him.They didn’t need to know that he was dealing with his idiot brother.“And let me know if you start feeling even worse.Actually, you should probably tell Palmer.”
