There was no question that Casey Regan was a terrible patient, but this was especially true when she wasn’t feeling particularly motivated to be anything less and unfortunately for Harvey Landsdowne he fell squarely in the latter camp. If she hadn’t been so ornery just then, Casey might have been more moved by his request that she let him do his job, but instead it made her more determined. Like usual, she would keep going until she couldn’t anymore.
The blonde witch rolled her eyes, though not unkindly, as Harvey shared his latest achievements “Trust me, I am not jealous – if I was you’d know.†She told him, grateful for the distraction for the moment. Her shoulder was really starting to hurt as much as she wanted to will it not to. She didn’t want to encourage her old schoolmate too much, but the back and forth was comfortable if nothing else. She wriggled as he moved her arm again for what seemed like the umpteenth time “One handed? Congratulations. They should admit you to Merlin’s order.†She teased, her tone dry.
At his yelp Casey let out another small laugh, as she flicked her gaze away from the ground and up to Harvey’s face “I didn’t punch you that hard,†she told him, but instinctively shrugged and winced as she offered him a sincere apology “Sorry, maybe not as funny as I thought.†She wanted to point out that if they were going to the hospital anyway, he could have it looked at, but stopped herself and conserved her energy and instead translated what she’d said earlier “it was a lot of cursing, and I didn’t actually call you anything†she admitted, a bit surprised at herself “Not at all proper, though.†She told him, gently poking at him again. She didn’t mean to do it, really, it was like an old habit and Harvey had a way of getting under her skin in the most annoying way possible.
Flirting with him? Hardly. Casey wasn’t the soppy type by any means, but she’d left that ‘punch boys if you like them’ phase long ago. She’d begun to figure out that being direct was often the best way to go and involved a lot less confusion for everyone. She arched an eyebrow at him “I’ve already got your attention†she retorted evenly, though without much malice “Plus, dislocating my shoulder isn’t exactly the meetcute I would shoot for.†Why she and Harvey were suddenly discussing her dating philosophy was beyond her, but she was also too tired to argue. The talking was keeping her grounded and focused.
Casey frowned when she realized Harvey was holding her, and that it was a fair bit of the reason she was upright currently, but her ego wouldn’t let her accept his help, at least not yet. “You sound like my dad†she told him “But there’s also no reason my taking care of myself is bad†she added stubbornly. It was true, Damon Regan was a good father, but had no qualms about putting his children in their place when they were acting the fool. The thing that chapped her the most was that Harvey was right. She probably did need his help. But the thought of letting him help her, or anyone for that matter was always a tough pill to swallow.
It was what gave her the energy to grab her broom and make her way off the pitch, and raise a hand in vague dismissal of Harvey’s assertion that she was going to the hospital. The thing of it was, Casey knew that Harvey was right again, but she was stubborn enough not to give him that satisfaction. She could hear him talking to someone behind her, and then he was at her shoulder – just when she thought she might have lost him for a moment “I am not going to keel over. I just walked off the pitch†Granted it was not the most graceful thing she’d ever done, but she’d made it. She was about to tell him that she would agree to going to the hospital with him when Harvey took her broom from her hand. But before she could give out to him for that he was scooping her up.
Casey wriggled, accidentally bumping him in the chest with her elbow. Her reaction was mostly out of surprise that he’d actually picked her up. She was too worn out to be truly mad about it, if she was being honest with herself. Still, she shot back “Now whose flirting, Landsdowne?†There was a hint of annoyance in her words, but it was otherwise an honest joke. She didn’t know if there could be winners or losers in a situation like this one, but Harvey had one this round, if there was. He’d managed to out stubborn her, and if she hadn’t been in pain, in shock, and exhausted by the first two things, she might have been impressed.
When Harvey finally put her back down Casey begrudgingly, though thankfully, leaned into him, a silent acquiescence that she maybe could use his help after all. As Harvey filled out the forms needed on his end of things Casey flashed the receptionist a smile and looked at her nametag. Trudy it said, and Casey was glad that the regular receptionist Phyllis was out for the day. Many of the staff in the emergency ward had known Casey for nearly her whole life and the last thing she needed was wagging tongues, or too many questions in general.
As he steered them towards and into the free exam room Casey heaved a heavy sigh and told him “I don’t hate you Harvey.†It was the truth He annoyed the shit out of her more often than not, but she certainly didn’t hate him “But, if I did, you resetting my shoulder would maybe be good reason†she said, keeping their conversation light. It did feel strange using his first name. She shot the wizard a look over her shoulder as she entered the hospital room “I heard that…but no, I’m actually okay. Thanks.†She finished as she sat on the edge of the bed within. Champagne sounded like a great idea, if she was being honest but she doubted that any of the healers had some stashed away in their desks. It was usually hard liquor.
Just as she was wondering if her uncle Murphy might have some in his desk, or if her father did, and whether she could convince them to give her some, Casey realized that it was a Wednesday afternoon. This in itself was not a bad thing, Wednesdays were fine enough on their own. But it did mean that her father would be the on-call Healer as he was one of the senior staff in the A&E, and she knew that he’d said something about working Wednesday’s last time they all had been home.
Sure enough, just as she thought she might get lucky and he would have the afternoon off, or maybe Murphy would be filling in for him instead, she heard her father’s muffled laugh as he rounded the corner and saw his figure through the frosted glass of the exam room just before he entered the room. Casey groaned softly and pinched her nose with her good arm as she wondered what or who she had upset to deserve this day so far.
The witch looked up and offered her father a wry smile, and shot a glance in Harvey’s direction, trying to gauge his reaction “How’re you, dad?†She offered, careful not to introduce Harvey, knowing full well that when the two healers figured out who the other was, her father and Harvey would have a field day.