"They will what?" Free asks, wanting to clear Dons statement, did he actually hear right just now.
"It's just a body check. They will measure your weight and height to calculate the body mass index. Check the hearing, vision..," Don lists. They were driving to the health center, give a custom checkup for Free. Since kid has basically never been in the hospital, get vaccinated etc. this was something Free need to go through eventually. The sooner the better. "They will also ask some questions about your background. Probably something like what you have been eating, how you sleep. Have you used narcotics, alcohol..," man keeps, using his usual calm voice. "What ever you tell them it's all confidential. If you wish so even I can't find out what you will talk with them. It's all normal. They ususally do these things from early school years to adulthood so checkups are done to everyone.
But if you do not like something they do or ask, let them know, be honest. They will analyse your state of mind there too. Are you mentally even suitable for working in this field."
"And if I'm not?" Free asks distressed. The more Don told what will happen in, the more he wanted to run. He thought he has prepared for anything, but there was SO MUCH new things he still has no idea about.
Don shows wider smile while glancing the visibly worried young man sitting next to him on the car seat. "Don't you worry too much. Think too much. It's just a routine check. They will not judge you there. Just see how you are doing. All good for you."
Free stares back at Don annoyed. Sure, this might be normal to this cop, but he himself couldn't just understand why some random person would have the right to decide was he okay. Didn't he himself know the best! And he feel very fine!
After they finally arrived, Free couldn't stop staring the huge building in front of them. White walls, huge windows, cars and people everywhere, park-like looking green area around it with benchs.. That all didn't relax Free a bit. Was this even a hospital?
"Still scared?" Don asks smiling. Kind of amused how strongly Free took this simple check-up.
"I'm not scared. I have seen places like this in movies," Free tsihs. This might not be Kerdon or the areas he has been hang around his life, but he could definitely blend in if he has to, as always.
They left the car on the parking area and head toward the main building. "Were you raised by movies or something?" Don suddenly wonders out loud. No wonder the kid lack of common sense sometimes.
Young man turns his surprised eyes on him. That guestion came out of nowhere while Free had focuse just intently eyeing the area around them. "Ha?"
"Did you ever do anything with your mother? Or be social with others when you were little? Remember anything particular? Or did you spend your daily life just watching TV? I've noticed you compare reality on things you have seen in TV. You repeat that a lot."
Now when man state it that way, Free really needed to think before answering anything. "I do?" sure, he did. Since he hasn't seen or experienced things himself, basically TV gave him the same, right? He could be pro of many things just by learning from movies. Wasn't that the case with everyone? Of course, after living five years in streets, he has learn a lot more. The reality wasn't so different from movies.
Don hums smiling. "Those kind of things they might ask," he clears then. "Personal things. You should be prepared. But cut the act. That won't be needed. You can trust people in. They are there to help you."
This was Don giving him tips? For what was coming? Okay, Free gets it now. "Can't I just talk to you then," he still needed to point out then. It was easy to speak to Don. But, like in the police station, he would definitely just put an act on. That way he could talk to strangers. Everywhere. "You I trust. Others I don't."
"For your own wellbeing you should learn to trust others too. I can't be the only one you will lean on," man comments back. Indeed, he think it was necessary kid to make changes in the way he was thinking about and behaving in society. To blend in.
"Why? I only need you. With you I can get a hold of this world of yours, right?" younger casually just states out. Don was about to say something back, but hesitated. Kept just walking. For now, leaning on Don was better than nothing.
When they get inside the building from the main entrance, Free went to sit in the waiting area while Don sign them in. While eyeing the people around him, young man grow somehow even more tense. Everything inside him scream to move his legs and run. This was an unknown place. Unknown people around him. He didn't belong here. Two doors between him and freedom. Usually he was prepared when he walk to the unknown. But somehow, now, situations like this were just too much. He would rather walk back to the Greenhouse's area than stay here. Since he knew what would be coming with Greens. Even with Don here, this was freaking hard. Free felt like he has to be constanly alert and he has to be careful what to say or do, how to say and do. He wasn't in control at all. His whole essence felt like being pushed down, lost and alone when his normally cocky attitude couldn't keep up. Only thing he could lean on was Don.
When Don comes back and sits next to him, he immediately pets Frees head once, to calm him down. "Are you okay?" Kid looked really stressed.
"I'm not," Free answers straight, shaking his leg up and down from nervousness.
"Palenne," someone calls from further. Hearing that name made Free freeze. Did he have to go in already?
Don sighs. "She made a haste..," man says quietly and gets back up, looking Free. Who would have knew that a small health checkup would turn out to be this overwhelming. "If you are too afraid we can do this another day," Don point out smiling. A push toward the ego should work. And it did. Free stands up too, looking annoyedly back to Dons eyes.
"It's just a checkup, right," he mumbles. Why he should even feel this alerted? He wasn't a kid anymore. He could handle everything.
There was a man standing in front of the corridor what head to the area of several checkup rooms. Man eagerly welcomes Don with a handshake. "I'm assistant Sephorse. Nice to finally meet you. I came from UK two months ago so we haven't actually met. But I have heard a lot about you, Donovan Palenne," man says while smiling widely. "Doctor Wolgang has showed some interesting research results of your case. I hope to work with you in the future, too."
"Has she now," Don gives this clear fake smile, didn't hide is irritation. Free couldn't help but notice Dons mood changing rapidly. Man looked just a bit angry in someway., even when it was just a very small moment. And what was that longer name man just used? Free has never heard sutch before. It must be a nickname or something. Mans driving license definitely didn't have that long name in. Just Don Palenne.
"Yes. And if you would let us scan your brain again any time soon you would be extremely rich subject to our new research department aswell," assistant clears. Hearing this Don intentionally squashes mans hand a little stronger. Realizing he might have acted a bit too enthusiastic here, assistant shows an apologizing smile, taking Dons point and hoping man would let go off his hand already.
Finally Don lets go of the hand, giving man a cold smile. "I sure would be," he says, using even more colder tone in his voice. Now Free wasn't sure should he panic or what. Scanning brains sounded so scifi. What they were talking about?
Coughing once to clear his voice, Sephorse moves his eyes on the young man next to them. "And you must be Free," he holds his hand toward Free, politely ready to shake his hand too. Free hesitates, but fastly repeats the same gesture and shakes. Gives a smile. The act came out anyway. "We have heard your situation from Mr Palenne. Today we will give you a normal body check and see how your wounds have healed so far. If you have any questions, anything at all, please, express them straight and we will work together to solve them. Okay?"
"Okay?"
"Was that a question just now?" man smiles, already very aware of young mans nervousness. This case too was very interesting one, what he has learn by now. "Would it be better if Mr Palenne comes in with you?"
"It would," Free answers very straight.
Sephorse hums. "Good then. Please follow me."
They followed this assistant, keeping a small gap between them. "Are they gonna scan my brain too?" Free asks quietly. He wanted to make sure shouldn't he just run now or not if Don too think scanning brains would be too much.
But man next to him shows his usual smile, eyeing the other. "No one is going to scan your brains," man calmly answers.
"Is it because it's just a check up now? Will they do it later??"
"No. There is no reason for sutch a thing. Relax."
"Then what was that? Why they want to scan yours?"
Older man sighs out and quietly answers. "Mine doesn't work as it should.."
Before Free has a change to ask more, he realizes man ahead of them has stopped in front of the last door on the left, which was open. Since Don didn't say anything more, their conversation about the very topic end there. Well, what ever it was, at least Free could trust he himself wouldn't get in the middle of some scifi movie while being in here. This place really gave him goose bumps.
Man turns around and shows with a hand gesture Free and Don to get in. When Free eyes the room from the outside, he could immediately spot the woman with a black, simple looking suit on her, standing in front of this large desk. "Doctor Wolgang," man introduces the woman, who has now turned to look Free smiling, waving him to come in.
"Ah, here he is, Free, come in," woman says with sutch an elegant tone, leaving Free very puzzled at first. It was a very strong and beautiful voice. "Please, let's not act like strangers. I'm your.. 'personal health carer' from now on. You can call me Lilian." But, sure, women Free could handle. They were strong with their tongue and opinions, but if you act nice to them they have no reason to not like you. Just give them a smile and they will like you. No exceptions. If woman was as cocky as he was, flirt. That works too. So Free gives a smile when they walk inside the room. Now he could also see the room better. There were multiple white cabinets with glass doors, big desk, three different chairs. And a high stand bed.
"Now let me look at you," Lilian smiles, meeting Free in the middle of the room. Don stays standing next to the doorway, noding goodbyes with the assistant who takes his leave. "Don dear, you can stay there," woman suddenly adds, giving Don just one glance, then moving her focus totally on Free. Older man sighs, doesn't say anything back.
So they really knew each others well enough to use first names? That made Free more relaxed around her.
"You are okay with me touching?" Lilian sures just before touching Frees face, not even waiting an aural answer, but morelike reading the feeling around the young man and just doing so. "There's a little swelling around your eye. I would say about two weeks old injure. It's a shame to black those beautiful eyes of yours, don't you think." This doctors accent was weird. Free has never heard it before. She might be foreigner, but spoke very good English.
Woman holds now Frees left hand and raises it up. "Can you move your fingers for me?" Free moves them. "It's good to keep the support outside your home. But let the skin breathe on time to time. You said you never x-rayd the damaged area?" Now she turns to look at Don.
"We didn't," Don answers shortly.
"Since they are moving alright, there should not be massive fractures. But we will scan them to be sure. It's like taking a photo," Lilian explains. Then she straights her back and takes his hand on her sides. "Now, let's get your shirt off."
Free stares her a moment, confused did she actually meant that just now, but since woman was clearly waiting him to do something, he takes his shirt slowly off. His left shoulder was still tender and moving his upper body twinge his rib. But he didn't let it show out too much. How uneasy moving like this could feel still.
Lilian takes a look of the stitched area on the arm. The ribs were tied around. "Broken rib?"
"Eighth one. On left," Don clears. Lilian hums as acceptance. But when she walks behind Free and sees his back, she lets a long fragile breathe out.
"Oh my," she quietly whispers, showing from her eyes how unpleased she felt. The back looked horrible. The tie around the ribs covered some area of it, but Lilian could see how the whole thing looked like. Those were hit marks. Made by hard, pliable objects. Wide robes or chains, maybe?
Woman glances Don, asking. Man didn't move his eyes from her, nor say anything. "Now what you have been through these past two weeks. This ain't looking nice," Lilian walks back in front of Free, smiling to him. "Seeing that you don't leave me choice. I will test you today. That has surely left scars in you.."
Test him? How? Free keeps staring the woman who now walks back at her desk, writing something down with her keyboard. "Let's measure you first. You can take your pants off, leave the underwears."
"Not wearing any," Free just states, kicks his shoes away and was suddenly already taking off his sweatpants. Lilian turns to look Free, then smiles.
"As long as you are comfortable," she calmly clears.
"I have a great looking body. Look as much as you like," Free proudly states back, being very aware of his good looking body.
Lilian laughs. "I like you. You have confidence. Don. You can go. I'm sure we will be just fine without you."
Don turns halfly. "You are okay with her?" he asks Free, but instead of getting an answer from Free himself, Lilian gives a wince toward him.
"I noticed you are eyeing us very intently. He is not your toy, Don dear," Lilian snaps. Purposely. "Or is it my beauty you are admiring? I can add more meetings in my schedule for you if you like to watch me, you naughty boy," she notes smiling. Don just stares her annoyed. He should go before this woman begins to play with him too.
Showing this very sneaky smile back, Don turns. "No thanks. You are the boss here," he drops the smile and moves toward the doorway, searching next Frees eyes under his own. "Just do as she tells you and you will be fine." Man adds before walking out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Free hums after him, being quite amused how much new unexpected sides he has witnessed today from Don when they were in here. After all this time showing this silent supreme attitude, there actually was someone this cop has to obey like that. Act humble. Well, this woman was okay from Frees perspective at least. Not making him nervous at all. This checkup should go fine.
After getting his weight and having his front been checked in a nano second, Lilian gave him a permission to put his pants back on. After that they measured his height. "64,9 inch. You might grow from that. But right now you are way too skinny. We will add some nutritions in your diet. To make it simple, people living in streets usually lack of micronutrient, normal bodyfat, proteins..
But it seems you do not have any actual problems with your physical development compared to others of your age," Lilian sums up while writing her words down on her papers. "About all of your wounds, only your backwounds will leave scars for the rest of your lifes, probably. But I'm sure that won't easy you down." Meaning Free wasn't all cry about that.
Free sits down on the chair Lilian was pointing and gives a smile back. "It's just my back. Not like I'm seriously broken. I can deal with it."
Lilian smiles, straightens her back while sitting on her own chair. She gives a calculating look toward Free. Playing with her pen around her fingers. "Don has told me something in his e-mail, but I will need some more personal infos about you. Doesn't matter can you answer to all. Just try your best," she states then smiling. Handing a paper and a pen to Free. "After you have answered all of these questions, I would like you to tell me, with your own words, how you end up living in streets, where and how you lived. How you got those injures of yours. Just, things like that what comes to your mind. This is so I could understand your situation better."
Free takes the paper hesitatingly. There were texts and lines to answer below. On the other side were grid questions, some of them were multiple-choice grids; things Free has never ever seen in his whole life. Nor understood a bit what he should even do here. Sighing, young man eyes Lilian with a fast glance and then tries to get something out of the paper. Sure, he could understand some of the words.. Now he looks the pen. But..
"Is it hard to write? With a pen?" Lilian wonders out loud while writing with her computer, not looking straight to Free, but the screen. But there was no way she couldn't see her patients bafflement here. Since young mans left fingers must still feel very hard to use, if he was lefty it would be difficult to write. "Which is your dominant hand?" Not that it did matter. But Lilian was sometimes a little more detailed than was even necessary to be.
"My what?" Free has to ask, staring the woman next to him.
Thinking this was definitely not any kind of answer she was expacting, Lilian raises her eyes to look Free and just casually continues. "Yes. Which handed are you?"
"..."
"..."
"That question.. doesn't make sense," young man says, more like asking. He has two hands. How she expect him to answer something like that?
"I mean, which hand do you write with?"
"Both?" since he only use keyboards. Pens were very old school, he has heard.
This was the very first time ever someone couldn't answer this simple question straight. How interesting. "..Then which hand do you hold a spoon?"
"I don't know..," Free tsihs frustrated, now lowing the paper down. Was she toying with him?
Lilian keeps intently staring Free, thinking. Then she smiles, raising her own hands. "Okay. Which hand do you use when you are about to reach something, like, from the table? Right? Or left?"
"The nearer one?" Free answers after thinking.
"Brush your teeth?"
"Right? No, it depends.."
Woman smirks now. She had an idea what this might be, but wanted to test her theory rather than ask straight. "Write your name," she taps the paper in front of Free, showing an area where he could write.
Free takes the pen with his right hand. The way how he holds it took Lilians notice. Young man writes 'FREE' using block letters, just like Kain had once taught him to do. Then he turns to look Lilian. Was that enough?
"Write it again, but with the other hand."
After a frustrated sigh, Free does so. His handwriting was as horrible. But he used his fingers just fine, even when they felt quite stiff still. The problem here wasn't his fingers. The problem wasn't even which hand he was writing. "You hold the pen like a four year old," Lilian calmly smiles, deeply understanding now what was going on. "You can't write, can you?"
Free clears his throat, growing a little embarrassed. "I only use keyboards.."
"So you can read at least?"
"So so..," he admits. "A friend of mine teach me not long ago. But I'm better at remembering how some words are written by memory than actually reading.. At least.. that's what I was told.. But writing is.. I'm not used to.."
Lilian gives a long sigh out and leans back. This one was very interesting patient to have. Not that there weren't people who couldn't read or write. There were many without a proper education. But to think Don was trying to train this kind of kid as his next underling to do his dirty jobs in field.. Lilian wasn't sure would all the efforts be worth it. Why exactly this kid was so special he was now here?
Along with giving him a formal healt check what was indeed necessary, there was something else too. Making sure Free was even a good candidate in the first place was Lilians main reason to even meet this kid. To give her professional opinion. Clarifying does he even have capabilities what were expected from people working in crime investigation, and under.
She was aware of this young mans official background. Could see why the Crime Investigation Department wanted people like Free to work for them. Someone familiar of streets, people living in, knowing his ways.. But trying to teach someone about things outside his own reality from streets when he couldn't even read so far might be just a waste of time. Something what someone like Don wasn't usually willing to waste so easily. How ever skilled Don saw this kid, the time to shape this one to fill their qualifications was just too long. That sure Lilian already was.
Man might have some great abilities, but if the rest of them is useless, you will only have a nicely shaped weapon in your hands which has no value or reliability to work correctly. That makes them imperfect. Uncontrollable dangerous.
Lilian really hoped she would find any reason to give her words of deny, not allow this one walk any further from this path. For his own sake. To let someone broken become even more broken.. Even when it would be scientifically fascinating. There were too much those kinds already..
- - - -
Over an hour later Don could hear laughing from inside the room where Free was in. Not long after, Doctor Wolgang opens the door and steps out with Free whos facial expression was calm but annoyed, showing out he was clearly more relaxed now compared earlier.
"I hope I will meet you again soon," Lilian says while shaking Frees hand smiling. "What ever will come up in your future, I'm technically your personal doctor from now on so.. You can lean on me, okay? You have my number now."
Free hums. "Sure."
Then Lilian turns her look to Don who was now walking toward them. "Your smarty is done here. Next they will take some blood tests and vaccinate him. Someone will call you soon, so please take your time in the waiting area."
"Thank you," Don says, using this very businesslike tone. Clearly trying to ignore womans presence as much as possible.
That distant attitude only made Lilian more attacking toward him. "And you I want to see sooner, not later," woman states, with a voice that didn't take no as an answer. "Your last appointment was over a half year ago. My secretary has tried to contact you several times these past months."
Don politely nods, showing a smile. "I've been busy. I promise I will try to make some time," man just states, looking woman in the eyes.
Lilian tsihs. Yeah, sure. This one avoided her appointment calls like some disease. "It's a promise. Or I will use force," her voice went even colder. But since they were both smiling, Free, who was just quietly eyeing them, couldn't tell was this intent atmosphere around them actually cold or not. It felt more like teasing. "If everything goes well, you might become someones guardian. Now that I would love to see. You of all playing family..," Lilian keeps while suddenly showing more relaxed mood, turning halfly around, smiling. "How long that act could possible last? I die to hear how it will go."
Don sighs. Doesn't dare to answer any way.
Being now satisfied of Dons silence, Lilian turns his look back to Free. "I wish the best of luck to you, Free dear. It was nice to meet you. Take care," she waves while walking away.
After woman was more further away, Free finally dares to speak out. "Acting so cold. You scared of her?" he asks while eyeing Don, showing this wide smile. Teasing. "She's your doctor too?"
Don smiles back. "She is. And she knows too much about me so I have to scare her a little," he calmly answers while turning to head back to the waiting area. "How did it go? It wasn't so bad, was it."
Free follows him. "It was just like you said. Nothing super weird," he states surely, being visibly way more calmer than before. Being his usual self again. "There was this question paper I had to fill. And she really asked how I ended up in streets, what I have been eating.. All that."
"Of course. It's so she could see from your point of view. Get to know you better. Her job is to analyse your state of mind and the health of your body," older man sits down on one of the chairs, widely crossing his legs. Now they couldn't but wait the call in. "There is confidentiality obligation she has to follow. It's part of her job. That is why I told you you can be honest with her. What ever you tell her is for your own good."
Free has sat down next to Don by now, humming. "Well, I was just thinking if you trust her, I can do too. That's all," he just points out then. "And while we were talking, I found out I'm right handed."
"You didn't know?"
"Did you? I didn't even know there is something like dominant hand what you are using more than the other. I might have heard something about that.. but never really think much of it."
"Well you use both hands quite equally, but even before you broke your fingers, you favored the right one," man clears surely, eyeing people around them.
"How did you know?"
"By watching you," man answers straight, glancing the younger once. "You usually smoke using your right hand, hold your coffee mug with right hand, use your phone, drink my beer.."
Free tsihs. Clearly man knew better than him.. That stalker. "Okay, I get it.. But, like, I never pay attention of something that stupid. It took us some time to figure it out..," he keeps. Then smiles even wider. "But then she ask which hand I use when I jerk off. So I'm probably righty."
Don snorts. "Of course... But let me tell you, those stupid- feeling small details are sometimes the most important. Don't be too arrogant."
Just when Free was about to recall more what he and Lilian have talk about, they were called in the other area of the center. Shortly, Free gave some blood samples and got his first vaccines. Being poke by needles over and over again was surely unnerving, but since Don was near all that time Free could tolerate it all. Without problems.
But this day was just a first step. Something that has to be done so the ones who hold Frees future on their hands would have something to judge him. Like Don has said to him, you couldn't rush these things.
That if what made Free even more frustrated..