Drabble: 'For Medicinal Purposes' (Jamie Turner, Jack, Gibbs)

[dwgm]

A drabble and three quarters, written for last week's potc100 drabble challenge...



~ For Medicinal Purposes ~

"This'll hurt like fire," Jack warned Jamie.

Jamie nodded, setting his teeth and his querulous insides.

At mother's insistence, they'd dosed him with laudanum before they'd cleaned and stitched the long gash on his arm two days back, and though it'd cut the pain right enough, it'd given him a headache and the horridest dreams, too. "No worries," Jack had told him later. "Next time we'll give you rum, whatever she says."

Now, with the wound showing signs of going septic, they were giving him rum, all right.

Hard hands latched onto him, and he jerked against them as Mr. Gibbs did his worst, but Jamie didn't cry, or even make much sound at all, though his eyes watered and he felt gaspy and trembling after.

Then Jack was there, praising him extravagantly. "Good man! You're a right one, James Turner."

Jamie flushed with pleasure, but put on a fierce glare. "Thought you meant I could drink the rum next time!" And then he had to grin as Jack and Mr. Gibbs roared with laughter.



~.~

Comments

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

haha I actually thought that as well ^^

Lovely drabble!!

[yoiebear.livejournal.com]

Poor kid!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

They were a long way from modern medicine (which is something of an imperfect science its own self).

Thanks for reading and commenting!

[fried-flamingo.livejournal.com]

Oh poor Jamie! Fab scene between these three :D

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Makes one wince, though, I must say.

[equilibrium44.livejournal.com]

He had every right to expect it to be a drink when Jack said it.

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

Sweet! Poor Jamie. I love the "fierce glare," and his pleasure in Jack's praise ♥

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I had a feeling someone would interpret it that way. Maybe I need to go back to the drawing board. Jack meant the next time he was badly injured and needed sewing up.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

It's pretty horrid to think of the state of medical aid at that time. I think I need a drink myself.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

They had to be awfully tough back then. I've been listening to Master and Commander on Books on Tape, and they were just so matter-of-fact about it all. Makes me shudder.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Heavens, you are a better man than I, for sure. I'm squeamish almost to the point of uselessness.

*Toasts you repeatedly with excellent rum*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

LOL!! I had two, but fortunately they weren't prone to injury, and are now fully capable of taking care of themselves (and their S.O.'s).

[equilibrium44.livejournal.com]

No, just me and Jamie I guess. (smiles)

[salr323.livejournal.com]

I love how you write Jack's relationship with Jamie, half big brother and half father. Very endearing. :)

[p0wdermonkey.livejournal.com]

Was about to say exactly what salr323 said. Her icon is perfect too!

Jack must really love Jamie to pour rum over him.

[artaxastra.livejournal.com]

*g* I agree with Jamie! He ought to have gotten a drink of it!

I love Jack and Gibbs' reaction!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

He should have. Of course he's only about eight here, but just a sip wouldn't hurt...

Thank you for reading and commenting!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you -- I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I need a rum icon myself. Glad you enjoyed this -- thank you for reading and commenting!

[soubie.livejournal.com]

I keep re-reading this- oh, your little James is wonderful! So anxious to be manly about it (I'm sure he'll be showing it off to all the other little boys in Shipwreak and expounding on about how much it hurt when they cleaned it out). And good to see that Jack loves him and lets him know, even if, well, even if Jamie is likely to be stomping round muttering that 'someone has to be the voice of reason round here' from an early age... (*pets little James and gives him Calpol, which tastes much nicer than laudenem, too*)

[mary684.livejournal.com]

Argh, this brings painful memories of holding my own down while they stitched her up and not a single drop of rum in sight (for me, for me!) Poor Jamie. I'm glad Elizabeth wasn't there, then I would have cried buckets, bad enough the two men were most likely gritting their teeth as they had at the boy.

I love everything about this -- a perfect view of Jack, Gibbs, Jamie, fatherhood, friendship, love...I'll shut up and just save to mems...

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

He he he.... Brave kid! But what to expect with those parents, eh? ;-D

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

So anxious to be manly about it (I'm sure he'll be showing it off to all the other little boys in Shipwreak and expounding on about how much it hurt when they cleaned it out).

I think being able to tolerate pain was a real survival skill back then, what with the state of medical knowledge, etc. And yes, there's no doubt he'd be running around and showing it off to his friends!

Jamie is likely to be stomping round muttering that 'someone has to be the voice of reason round here' from an early age.

Well, he is his father's son, after all. *G*

I'm so happy you enjoyed the drabble! Thank you for letting me know!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I was very fortunate that mine weren't accident prone, and I truly feel for you -- you must have needed a stiff drink after that!

I think a tolerance for pain was pretty much a survival skill back then. Jamie's getting some practice here, all right, though they'd definitely give him some rum to get through worse trials -- stitches, or the setting of a bone, or whatever.

*shudders*

I'm so glad you liked it, and enough to save! Thank you for letting me know!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yes, but I'm sure there are lots of good examples for him to follow, what with the state of medical care back then.