* * * *
PALMER HATED NOT BEINGable to do more.He looked at the pile of books on his dresser, then at the one on the small table in the sitting area of his room.He’d been reading medical texts every spare second he had, but the problem was that the symptoms Yorga and Twig exhibited were too generic.It could be anything, and Palmer wasn’t able to identify the illness, which meant he couldn’t find a treatment that worked.He initially hadn’t been too worried, but that was starting to change.Nothing he was doing helped.Hell, he suspected that Twig was getting worse, and Yorga might, too, if her illness followed Twig’s progression.Palmer had to do something.
But what?
When someone knocked on his door, he was both annoyed at the interruption and grateful for the distraction.He could take a step away from the books for a few minutes.It would probably do him good.
The door opened before he could reach it.His brother walked in as if he owned the place, and while Palmer was annoyed, he didn’t have it in himself to argue.“Close the door behind yourself,” he muttered as he raked a hand through his hair.
Taylor blinked but obeyed.Once the door was closed, he watched Palmer, and Palmer knew what he was doing.He was trying to read him so he knew what to say.
“You don’t look too good,” Taylor eventually said.
Palmer snorted.“Thank you.”
“I’m not kidding.Have you been sleeping?”
“When I can.”
“Which means not enough.That can’t be good for you or for your patients.”
Palmer put down his book and leaned back into the couch.He rubbed his face with both his hands, feeling the exhaustion weighing on him.“I don’t have time to sleep.”
“Again, I don’t think that you collapsing from exhaustion is going to help you or your patients.How’s Twig doing?”
Palmer didn’t ask how Taylor knew his exhaustion was about him.Of course he did.“Not well.His symptoms are worsening, even with the treatment I’m giving him.”He looked at his brother.“Everything I’m doing is failing.Iam failing.”
Taylor flopped onto the armchair and kicked Palmer lightly.“Don’t talk like that.You’re not failing.”
“Twig isn’t getting any better.That’s the definition of failing.”
“You’re working through this.I’m sure you’ll find a solution.”
“I’d find one faster if Twig allowed me to ask for help.”
“Probably, but he’s not going to change his mind, is he?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Then you need to do what he wants, at least for now.I’m sure there’s a good reason he doesn’t want dragon healers to be involved.”
“I know.It would be for the best, though.”Palmer sighed.“Maybe Pearl isn’t wrong.Me being here is clearly keeping Twig from getting medical treatment.That’s not right.”
“From what I can see, Twig is the only one keeping medical treatment from himself.You’ve tried to find him help.You can’t force him to accept it.That has nothing to do with you or with what Pearl thinks of you.Also, she’s wrong.You’re a good doctor, and you want what’s best for your patients.You don’t make any difference between humans and dragons.You’re respecting Twig’s wishes, even though you want to do more.That’s not someone who doesn’t care or who’s not good at their job.”
“I just want him to be okay.”
“I’m sure that he will be.Besides, you’re not working on this alone, are you?How’s Rune?”
Palmer scowled.“I don’t want to talk about him.”
“Why not?He’s involved, isn’t he?I’ve heard about your little library sessions.”
“He’s helping me because Twig’s his brother.He wants him to be okay, and he knows that Twig doesn’t want me to involve dragon healers.”
“So you’re spending a lot of time together.”
“We are, but it has nothing to do with feelings.”
