IV

DAY 25

Hadassa rubbed her temple in annoyance while searching the drawers around the tent.

Where the hell were the heat suppressants?

For some reason that she couldn't quite point, her body had contradicted its own rules, and she was entering heat a lot earlier than she was supposed to.

"Doctor Klaczko?" Nurse Dot's voice made her glance in her direction. "Did you request assistance?"

"Yes," she continued to search, impatient with the sweat dripping down her temples and the fast way her blood was pumping. "I need to call someone to replace me for the next four days or so, I'll be spending a while in town."

"Yes, ma'am."

She let out another frustrated groan, running her hands through her hair, and Dot gently rested a hand over hers.

"The suppressants are in the cabinet, ma'am," she said in a soft voice. "With the prophylactics."

She followed Hadassa silently as she wrote herself a prescription, leaving a copy where the next medic could see.

"I've already rented a place and got my car packed," the young doctor told her, taking the first set of pills with half a glass of water, jittery.

As much as the suppressants did help with the heats and ruts, they left whoever took them feeling like ultimate shit. That was why omegas and alphas were sent to two of the closest towns to rest, as far as possible from one another.

"Doctor Klaczko is on his way," she continued, turning fully to Dorothy. "Well, the other Doctor Klaczko."

Right as she said it, her great-great-grandnephew walked the tent.

"Good afternoon, cousin," he said politely. "Nurse Dorothy."

Hadassa answered the same way, ignoring the sneaky looks they were exchanging as she buttoned her suit, ready to leave.

Dot followed her until they were close to her car – a model the young woman had around the time she had arrived in France, so she wouldn't depend on anyone for transportation.

"Do you need anything, ma'am?" she offered.

Hadassa declined with a head shake.

"I've taken care of everything," she affirmed, taking a piece of paper from her pocket, which had the address of the place she had rented to stay in. "Send any mail I receive to this address."

"Yes, ma'am," she nodded. "Have a safe trip."

"Goodbye."

. . .

Bucky stepped into the medical tent with a puffed chest. Today he'd ask for Doctor Klaczko's real name. He had been preparing himself to do so for the latest five days and today was perfect. He was ready.

Except that when he looked at her desk, she wasn't there. Instead, a man was sat on her chair and in there, leaning onto a notebook and writing something down.

"Excuse me?" he called, and the doctor raised his head.

"Yes? How can I help you?"

Bucky fixed his posture.

"I'm looking for Doctor Klaczko."

The man sat straighter.

"That would be me."

Bucky frowned, confused. Was this her brother? He didn't look old enough to be her father.

Could this be her husband? He didn't know she had a husband. He had never even seen her wearing any rings.

"The other Doctor Klaczko," he risked saying.

The man's face lit up in understanding.

"My colleague is on her monthly leave. She'll be back in a few days. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Bucky hesitated, trying to look for a reason to have shown up.

"I believe I might be coming up with the flu and was wondering if you had anything for that," he lied, at last.

The doctor thought for a moment and stood up, opening a cabinet and grabbing some tablets.

"One of these every 12 hours for three days," he instructed. "If it doesn't help, let me know, and I'll get you something stronger."

He nodded, and then cleared his throat.

"May I ask you, doctor, are you two related?"

A shadow crossed the man's face for a moment, and he shifted in his seat.

"We are cousins."

Bucky relaxed a bit. That was good, right? He wasn't her husband.

Cousins. It made sense, right? They looked a bit similar, with the same dark hair and light blue (grey?) eyes.

"What is her name?" he couldn't help asking, though a little hesitant and embarrassed.

The doctor chuckled in amusement.

"You should ask her yourself. If I tell you, Doctor Klaczko might forget we are related and choke me with her own hands. You'd be surprised with how strong she can be," he chuckled and lowered his voice. "Honestly, you'd be surprised by many things about her."

Bucky tried to play it cool, soon saying his goodbyes and walking back to his tent, but stopped when he saw the mail of the day being carried.

A letter. He could write a letter.