Emergency with a Demiguise (Jake, Kiss, invite)

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A single nod at the auror's words, she turned her attention back to the witch. With most cases, injuries were obvious; this was not her typical case, though, and she knew there was a lot that she hadn't yet healed. The young witch before her still had a ways to go before she would be physically okay.

Muggles had things like x-rays and stitches, and while sometimes she wished St. Mungo's would allow things like MRI scans to be introduced. If they would work in the wizarding world, she wasn't sure -- but she knew that in cases like this it would be most helpful. Of course, there were spells that accomplished things similar to the Muggle machines and techniques, but there were some things that just could not be replicated.

Many hours had Clarinda spent pouring over muggle medical books, learning as much as she could about the different procedures and wondering what could be applied on those in the wizarding community and what couldn't. She hadn't developed any new spells -- she simply wasn't talented enough a witch for that -- but she had some ideas that she passed down and up to those who were.

Nodding again as he explained how he'd found her, she had to force herself to breathe normally at the 'naked' part. There were many reasons for this -- humiliation, dehumanisation, exposure to the elements -- but she couldn't help but wonder if they'd... done more.

"The room, was it damp or dry? What type of chair was she on? Hard, soft, wood, metal?" she asked. This would determine if she needed to check for splinters or bruised muscles. "Also, you said she woke up. Was she responsive -- looking around, gripping onto you, or any other conscious movement -- or just disorientated?"

She paused, looking at the girl. She'd have to conduct testing later on for any signs of the different kind of abuse, but not while a male was there. Instead, she said, "Call me Clarinda; it's easier. Ma'am is too formal," as her eyes moved to the witch's face. She would have to check for any internal injuries.

There was a complicated spell that allowed her to get a (mostly) accurate reading of the witch's internal status, and, pointing the wand at her own eyes, she murmured the spell with as much concentration as she could spare. A moment later, her vision blurred before correcting itself, and she focused her attention onto her patient's head, seeing not entirely through it but a blurry image of the inside -- the brain.

There was no bleeding as far as she could see, and she moved her gaze downwards, taking note of the broken ribs, mentally categorising it for later. As she moved her sight down, a very slight dip in her eyebrows were the only external concern she showed as she noted the internal bleeding around the abdomen. That would be the next thing she did. Finishing her scan, she relaxed her grip on the wand, feeling the spell come to an end, and lowered it from the side of her head.

It was a taxing spell, but it was worth it in cases like this.

The minutes turned in to hours, but Jake didn't falter from his place. Watching without really knowing what the Healer before him was doing, but trusting that everything was necessary and helping. Jake's mind stayed in operation mode, not daring to switch off and think of Lucy as anything short of a victim to a crime. Treating her as more would open him up to emotions, and Jake had done enough wrong for one day.

The question that came helped, though, and Jake closed his eyes briefly to remember the scene in which he'd found Lucy. Bringing back everything he could remember to the forefront of his mind. Reliving it so that he could answer the questions asked in as much detail as possible.

"Dry." Jake responded to the first question, though his tone did not hide the note of uncertainty. Uncertainty which came in to being with his next explanation. "It wasn't damp. But there were water marks on the floor around L- your patient. I... would imagine water was used in the process." Jake explained, the last word very sour because the idea of all of this would make him stomach churn if he let it.

"Wooden. And she was bound to it. With rope." Jake explained for completeness. He hadn't seen if it was broken in anyway, so he could not answer any further on that point. But he hoped that would be enough for Healer Jennson.

"She stirred long enough to say my name, and the word stop. But nothing else. She could barely manage those two words in truth." Jake explained in respect of Lucy's actions when he'd been moving her. He hadn't known why Lucy wanted him to stop, but that request had been ignored.

The insistence to call Healer Jennson by her first name was one that Jake nodded in reply. He would do so next time he was addressing her directly, and not answering questions. Jake fell silent once more, watching, waiting.

Time slipped away from Jake, in truth, his eyes simply waiting for something. A good sign. But he wasn't a Healer. Anything beyond basic healing had him stumped. So when, and only when, Clarinda seemed to come to a slight pause in her work, Jake softly cleared his throat.

"Heal- Clarinda... how... how is she going to do?" Jake managed to ask. "She's going to make it?" He clarified. But his tone was not the worrisome family member who needed reassurance. No Jake's tone was clear. He wanted an honest answer. Not a bullshit answer for the worried.

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~ Auror ~ Profile ~ DADA Professor ~
~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

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Listening intently to his answers, she mulled over the information, storing it away for her report later. At the very least it had been dry; hypothermia occured at a much lower rate when there wasn't water present. But that thought was quickly put out when the auror continued.

She had to hide a gentle smile at the word he used. Torture was torture; there was no point trying to call it something else to lessen the effect. There wasn't anything to soften, in the end. The witch before her still went through it whether it was called 'process', 'torture', 'ordeal', or whatever other words people favoured. But she could understand that some weren't quite as comfortable with the proper term.

Personally, though, it made no difference. The only time she phrased it carefully was when talking to either the patient or the family (and friends) of said patient; other than that, to other professionals, she kept it simple and straightforward.

But, respecting that there was a possibility that Auror Newbury had some issues with the whole topic, Clarinda didn't comment, instead nodding as he continued. "Do you know what material the rope was?" she asked. A seemingly unimportant question -- and, perhaps, it was in an emergency -- but she had time, and she knew that different ropes had different effects.

Shaking off the lone memory of her biological father teaching her said differences, Clarinda noted the further information with another nod. At least the witch before her knew what was going on -- but the word 'stop' was what bothered her the most. Was it a plea to be left behind, an instruction because the act of moving her had hurt (in which case spinal injuries might be present), or a fragment of a sentene the witch never finished?

"Thank you," she said, going back to the patient. There were still tests to be run and odds and ends to be healed. Not everything could be done at once and Clarinda dealt with the more severe ones first, and the ones that would cause her patient the most discomfort.

Eventually, she stopped for the time being; there was nothing else to be done and she stepped back, turning to the auror. The question brought a smile to her face as she wondered if this was his first torture case; they were always the worst. It didn't get easier with time, but one got better at dealing.

"Yes," she said, simply. "She will make it." Pausing to cast another charm over the sleeping witch -- one never knew what someone could overhear, even when asleep. "The human body -- magical or not -- has been known to recover from some horrible situations. Magic aids, but it's her body that got her thus far."

Pointing at the sleeping witch's shoulder, Clarinda continued. "That was carved with a curse; nothing we can do will remove the scar of the word. We're working on potions, but so far there haven't been any breakthroughs." Letting out a soft sigh, eyes moving to the witch, she added, "However, that's speaking about her physical needs. Torture -- in any form, be it physical or mental -- tends to leave a mental scar that some never recover from, not fully."

"All we can do is wait and watch." She turned to look the auror directly in his eyes. "It is not, however, your responsibility. You did the best you could with what you knew; her mental health is not your burden to carry, nor is it mine. There are professionals to help her. You've done your part, I'm doing mine, and someone else, theirs. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Polyester." Jake told the witch in response to the question of ropes. "Though, I believe they were tied through magical methods, not by hand." He added, not sure if this was relevant in that moment, but he said it anyway. More information could never harm, Jake was sure of that much.

Whether anything else had been of use, Jake couldn't say, but the thank you from the Healer was enough for him to know he'd said enough to aid her in her observations. He doubted there was much in there that would save Lucy's life, but who was Jake to say?

Finding Lucy would make it through, Jake let out a soft sigh, a breath he hadn't known to be holding until that point. Now, he could probably relax. As Clarinda continued on, Jake took up the seat he'd been offered a while ago, only know realising he was shaking. It was the shock, he knew that much, but also the relief that this was going to be okay.

The information about the scar was one that made Jake nod. "We... could possibly teach her a spell to cover it?" Jake asked the witch, wondering if that was an option. Not that he condoned covering scars, but it might help the recovery period.

But as Clarinda said that Lucy's mental illness was someone else's problem, and whether he understood. "I can't leave her on her own through this..." Jake replied, his eyes moving to the sleeping witch. Worry was written on his features, Clarinda might not understand why, but Jake had made his decision.

________________________________________________
~ Auror ~ Profile ~ DADA Professor ~
~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

Guest

Once again nodding at his information, she kept her gaze on the sleeping patient. Polyester cut deep, causing bruising and chaffing, and was quite the unforgiving material. She would have to keep an eye on the witch's wrists for signs of internal bleeding.

The choice of words didn't escape her. A witch of that age should know concealment charms, but with what had been carved into her shoulder it was obvious she wasn't a powerful one. Spells were useful, yes, but they were dependant on those who cast it. Surely there were other options that didn't involve direct magic? Turning to consider the auror, her words died on her lips as she noticed his shaking, instinct taking over.

Walking over to a table nearby, she grabbed a teacup and a flask, opened it, and poured out steaming hot tea. Wordlessly, she summoned a potion from the cupboard; carefully, she poured in two drops of the purple liquid before replacing the stopper. That done, she picked up the teacup and walked over to the auror.

"Drink this," she said. It was an instruction, not an offer. "It will calm your nerves." There was a slight edge to her tone, not judging him for shaking but almost reprimanding him for not sitting earlier. "Would you like me to call in a replacement for you now?" That wasn't exactly protocol, but she had her contacts, and it wouldn't be hard to have another auror there in a few minutes. She paused, considering something, and then added, "In fact, I think I must insist. You've told me all I need to know, and I wish to conduct further examinations without the presence of a male."

She smiled a gentle, knowing smile at his next words, understanding where he was coming from. It was a rookie mistake, one that people made no matter how high up they were or how long they'd been at the job. Those who were lucky didn't have to make this mistake until many years into their working life, but so far she hadn't met anyone retired who could claim they hadn't tried to take on responsibilities they weren't meant to. It was a costly lesson, usually resulting in sleepless nights and anxiety, but it was also a necessary one; it taught one boundaries, and limitations. It showed one that it wasn't possible to save everyone, and that you did what you could and left the rest to those who could carry on from where you stopped. It showed one that each person had a job, and when not to take things further. It showed one that it was okay to let go, to step back and let someone find their own wings.

But it was also difficult and painful, and Clarinda hated it when those she knew had to learn it. She did not enjoy watching people hurt, especially for something out of their control -- but she also knew that this was necessary for them, and that there was nothing she could do. Sure, she could tell them, warn them, teach them, but everyone always thought they were the exception. That they would be the one that it wasn't true for. That they were, in a sense, able to do the impossible.

That was never true.

And so, the knowing smile never leaving her lips, she played her part, explaining, "You aren't, auror Newbury. You're leaving her to the professionals, who know what they're doing and are trained to help her in the best way they can."

She doubted he would heed her advice -- they never did -- but it was what she needed to do, as she always did. Later, once the lesson had taken place and he was done learning, she would be there to offer him a cup of tea and a listening ear, should he want or need it. But for now, all she could do was repeat her warning as she had done so many times before.

The cup of tea that came made Jake feel so bad for causing the witch to fuss. "I'm sorry..." Jake replied, taking the cup without delay and sipping it. "I didn't mean to cause any fuss. It's... my second..." Jake motioned to Lucy, knowing the Healer would understand. "It doesn't get any easier." He added, mostly to himself more than anything. The question of getting a replacement made Jake shake his head.

But the insistence was one Jake couldn't really argue with. He was going to have paperwork to deal with, and thus, he agreed with a nod of his head. Probably best that someone else come in so that they could get Ms. Belware notified before anyone else told her.

The words that he should not be taking on the work to aid Lucy's recovery were ones he listened to, but not ones he was going to heed. He... well, he felt like it was partly his fault - having not taught her well enough at school - but also for not have found her sooner. But, instead of saying that, Jake just nodded his head, draining the cup, and putting it on the side.

"I will... leave you to your examinations, and have a replacement over within half an hour." Jake told the Healer, feeling slightly better after the tea, but still not great. He needed his wife, that's what would help.

Moving towards the door, he turned back to the Healer one last time. "Thank you, Clarinda... for everything." He told her, before stepping out, and heading back towards the Ministry.

________________________________________________
~ Auror ~ Profile ~ DADA Professor ~
~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

Guest

Arielle did step away from the girl's body when that other healer had come in. She even heard what she asked from her and told her but she wasn't sure what she should say even there. She just tried to help even if she had for sure long day ahead of her.

She knew she shouldn't have done what she did now. And well she just stood there and watched when that older healer did. Probably even head of some department was helping the girl, well young woman now. She just wasn't good at her work as she thought she was. She even began to question herself there.

She took a deep breath. "I'm just gonna go now. And leave you here to deal with her then. Answer do your question I'm not sure. There were just a changes about it recently. It's one older man named Ethan if I'm correct. Anyways yeah I'm not capable of all that what you are. So yeah you are every right to be mad at me. I probably did yes some things wrong there. Don't worry I won't be on your way any longer," she said. She didn't show any sadness or anything like that in her voice. She was good at hiding her emotions there.

Even if those words kind of did hurt. Well, she knew now that she did some things wrong but saying them out like this wasn't that good to hear for sure. So she just decided to leave the room. She felt like she wasn't needed there. Probably her head of department will hear about this for sure. Anyways Arielle was planning to quit her job already there and find herself something else to do. Sh wasn't yet sure what.

"Good Bye," she said and basically left then finally. She just wasn't sure where she even went right now.

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