Pop quiz: How long does it take to beat a moron to death?

[He puts away the pistol and gives a stern gaze back to Scout.]

She's right.

[He closed his eyes for a moment and put the pistol away.]

No, I dare not take the chance for either of us. If by chance that you are not brought back, think of the damage that seeing your body broken and shot would cause to the child in your home.

I'll do my best to patch you. You can swear at me all you like. My moral fiber will not allow such an easy way through provided by assisted suicide.

[It was then he began to work to set the rib which he lifted Scout's arm.]

The pain will be a reminder not to make poor decisions again.

[Then the pop. He set it with thick tape and wrapped his torso in the stuff.]

If it is only a punctured lung you suffer, you will bruise and the site will be tender for some time though your lungs should be able to repair themselves. Puncturing the cage will only cause a collapse and you can certainly die from that. You're able to breathe and you will need to refrain from moving at least for a short while.

[As he worked, he looked over the rest of his body and started moving toward the leg. He positioned himself away from the good one in case of getting kicked.]

Hate me all you like for this.

From:

[He struggles against Crane, but he's running out of energy, and considering this is Scout, that's sort of impressive. There's a whole lot wrong with Scout at the moment - not just the broken bones but also blood loss and a concussion. He lets out a yelp when the rib's set back in place, and then practically growls at you, amidst the labored breathing.]

It WASN'T my goddamn fault. Mayfield thought it was be.... so friggin' hilarious... ta give me my speed back.... an' then make it go away just as... I was jumpin'. Fuckin' fell.... 3 stories... an' landed on my face... at a hundred miles an hour.

Then there was... shit, a LOT of other stuff. Spy. Solly. My neighbor. Her. [He cocks his head to indicate Olivier, then he just lays his head back and stares up.]

Goddamnit I hate this town.

From:

[The fight was a good sign to him. It means that his lungs weren't badly damaged but bruised badly enough that it would cause labored breathing. He was glad for this. The information was a bit shocking to him that anyone who was going that fast should have died on impact but here he was still alive and very conscious.]

The human body is a remarkable thing indeed. You'll be fine in a matter of weeks though killing you would be easier, as you say.

This town...everything that it stands for is not to be taken so seriously when powers return, I fear.

[He sets the splint and moves to check his eyes.]

Your pupils have dilated. A sign of concussion. I will need you to stay awake lest you slip into a coma from the swelling.

I will stay to observe you and I will explain to the family what has happened. You needn't be stressed during recovery. Unfortunately, I cannot allow you to have fluids while your lungs are healing. You can have ice and you can eat as normal. Soup is recommended.

[He needed to get Scout to the bed but moving him with the broken rib was going to be difficult. He started checking for open wounds that seemed life threatening.]

From:

Yeah, well... wouldn't be in... my line 'a work... if somethin' like... a fall'd stop me.

[He recoils a bit.] Weeks?! [coughcough] Doc I ain't got WEEKS! Me 'n' that team... coupla days, we got plans happenin'...

[Besides what Crane already found out, and the bone Olivier already set in his arm, Scout just had a lot of bruises and abrasions, some cracked bones and a broken nose. But that last one's happened so many times in his life, he barely noticed.]

I CAN'T sit around. Not after this. Shit. I am gonna... fuck this town up so hard...

From:

[Satisfied that there are no more major injuries to settle and confident that his abrasions are not any more than just ugly road rash that will sting more than being life threatening, he looked to Scout.]

I'm sorry but your plans may have to be postponed or adjusted.

[He lifted up Scout after he opened the doors to bring him inside.]

From:

Ok. No. I can't. Shit. After crap like this....I can't just be layin' around. I gotta get... the hell outta here.

[He can't really help but be brought inside. But oh lord, is he ever MORTIFIED. If anyone from his team - or even worse, any REDs - saw him like this, they'd never let him down. To make matters worse, now he was going to be stuck at home with a recently-droned wife.]

_{...goddamnit.}

From:

[Olivier follows them both, her expression strangely going from somber to angry as her side-effect subsides. She can parse out that Scout is injured, and from her presence and what pieces she knows clearly, she is certain she had something to do with it. There's the slightest bit of femininity hiding inside her, and she gently elbows in, taking Scout from Crane and helping him to a fine resting place.

Now, she has a plan. She's sure Scout will approve.]

It's my fault, Mr. Crane. I'll watch over him. I do have some experience with field medicine.

From:

[He allowed Olivier to take his place and nodded. It seemed strange to him at first until he noticed that her demeanor has returned to normal and backed away.]

Yes, I suppose it is for that best that you tend to him. He seems to know you better than me, it appears. I must return home. It is getting late and thank you for your relief, General.

[He didn't want to barge in any more than he already has and the reality has set in that Scout needed much more than he could offer. He only hoped that Scout would survive the night though the extent of the injuries were far harder to tell without the right tools which he didn't have. He took another look over his shoulder and gave a nod before he left the house, leaving Scout in Olivier's care.]

From:

[She waits until Crane is gone, then crouches near Scout. She's examining his wounds, calculating a rough estimate on recovery time... and making sure no one else is around. She speaks in hushed tones, with gravity and conviction.]

Scout. It would be faster to do this the other way, wouldn't it?

[In one hand, she's holding the pistol Crane retrieved. The other rests on her sword. Both of these are out of Scout's immediate view.]

From:

[Scout's now lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling. He's sort of fed up with life, the universe and everything right now. For the first time since he got here, at least for the moment, Mayfield has finally managed to sink his usually boundless confidence.

He's not exactly thrilled with Olivier at the moment either.]

Whatever. I don't care. Goddamnit I.... hate this place.

From:

[...She's not exactly thrilled with him, suddenly. Maybe she'd felt apologetic, or obligated, but now she's just pissed.]

Pull it together and make a decision, Scout. You lay here and recover normally, or you let me do the mercy strike. I'm a soldier, but I'm also human; I have a conscience, and I won't kill you if you don't ask for the service.

You can repay me in kind when you're up and moving again. So decide.

From:

[He sits up painfully and looks her square in the eyes, sternly.]

Awright. Fine. Let's do this. Get it over with.

From:

[She locks gaze with him, acknowledging it, and raises the gun. She knows the most lethal point and distance, and she's got this all figured out.]

You'll have a mess to clean up.

From:

Yeah. Whatevah. Just... let Ai know what happened, awright? She's... somethin's up wit' her, I don't want her gettin' all freaked out.

[He waits, keeping his eyes locked on hers.]

From: