by F. L. Jordan
Zach paused to see if the doc had a problem with his sexuality, but Dr. Tory remained silent. Zach took another steadying breath before continuing.
"After we graduated, he proposed," Zach felt his heart rate rising, why did this still hurt so much?
"I was over the moon," his voice cracked and Zach cleared his throat. "My mom and my sister started planning the wedding. He and I started talking about houses and adoption. Everything was... perfect. Until I came home to find him in bed with some chick."
"Did something happen that would have driven the two of you apart?" Dr. Tory asked softly, holding up a new note for Copper, ‘Was it really perfect?’ The dragon shook his head. Daniel had been an abusive asshole throughout their entire relationship. Copper had hated him from the second he met him.
"Yeah," Zach had started pulling on his fingers, "I got a promotion. He didn't want me to take it, but we needed the money for the down payment on the house. We'd fought about it, but he'd agreed in the end that it was for the best. He even switched to night shift to help save up money because the pay was better."
Zach was on the verge of tears. He'd pushed all of this down for so long, talking about it so openly felt like exposing himself in front of his coworkers. The desire to run out of there and get plastered was tugging at the back of his mind like an incessant toddler begging for a candy bar.
"Ok, we will definitely need to explore the emotions attached to that event, but for now, let’s move on," Dr. Tory encouraged him to continue. “Tell me about how you were blinded.”
"She did it," Zach dug his fingers into his thighs as he spoke. "I kicked him out the day I found them together. As he was leaving, I told him I never wanted to see his face again. That witch he was with made it a reality."
Copper noticed the doctor's eyebrow arch slightly as Zach said the word 'witch’. Considering the world thought Zach had been injured in the line of duty, the doctor’s surprise was well earned.
"So your condition is a curse?" the man sounded shocked. Zach just nodded. He didn't feel like crying in front of a stranger, and elaborating further would certainly cause tears to fall.
Zach heard the doctor tap his tablet with his nail a few times before typing in a few notes, "I think I've gotten a good picture of what's going on. This is obviously hard for you to talk about, Mr. Hail, so we'll stop here for today. I'm going to write you a prescription for medical marijuana."
Zach snorted, relaxing his tense posture in disbelief, "Seriously? Weed?"
"Considering your current issue with drug use," Zach could hear the seriousness in the man's voice, "I don't think it would be wise to prescribe anything else. Try to use it only when you can’t shake the urge to use something stronger. Sydney, the receptionist, will give you the address to the dispensary we work with."
"Can she also take my urine tests for me at work?" Zach groaned. There was no way he'd be able to hide this from Levit.
"I'll be happy to provide you with a note," he heard the doctor rip off a piece of prescription paper which Copper quickly retrieved.
"No thanks," Zach scoffed as he tucked the slip into his shirt pocket, "I'm a cop, Doc. Medical or not, I'd lose my job for testing positive for THC."
"Cop or not, you could lose a lot more than your job if you ingest some street drug that's laced with God only knows what," Zach appreciated that the man was talking to him normally now, it felt like he was actually interacting with a human. “At least this won’t kill you. Use it ONLY when you cannot control the urge to get high, understand? It’s for emergencies.”
“Yes, sir,” Zach gave a halfhearted smile, unaware that the man was holding up a new note for Copper, ‘Make sure he uses it correctly.’
The dragon understood that the doctor wished to keep their interaction a secret. The man had been reading every single physical sign of distress Zach had been making the entire time they talked. He was highly observant. Copper had tested his observation skills by flicking his tail randomly throughout the session, pleased to see that the man’s eyes darted to the movement each time. It was clear that the doctor intended to use he and Zach’s relationship to the fullest.
“This was a good first session, Zach. I’m proud of you for being able to open up as freely as you did,” Dr. Tory stood and opened the office door for them. As he turned back to them, a powder grey wand fell from his coat pocket. He noticed Copper’s hardened gaze and quickly tucked it away, hurrying to write a new note, ‘White magic, never use it on patients.’
“No kumbaya circle?” Zach asked sarcastically as he stood, oblivious to the discovery that had just taken place.
I’ll be right back, I need to use the bathroom, Copper lied as he leapt from Zach’s shoulder, landing on the doctor and bumping his tablet with his nose. The man opened it for him and gently set it down before walking to Zach’s side.
“He ok?” the doctor pretended Copper had already flown out.
Zach stretched and took a step towards the door, “Yeah, just drank too much before we came here.”
“Well, then,” Dr. Tory winked at the little lizard before lightly taking Zach’s elbow, “allow me to show you out in his absence.”
Zach flinched, but allowed the touch, not because he needed the help, but because he trusted the man. Something about the doctor was comforting, almost familiar. Zach had been trying to pinpoint the feeling since the meeting had started. The moment the man had touched his arm he figured it out. This is how he’d always felt when he’d been talking with his father.
Copper waited until they were through the door to start typing a note of his own. He knew Zach would be able to hear the vibrations on the tablet, ‘Don’t bring that to future meetings, he can feel its aura. If he finds out you’re a witch, he’ll automatically assume you’ve charmed him and stop coming.’
Satisfied with his message, the little dragon quietly made his way out of the doctor’s office and into the lobby. He spotted Zach at the reception desk and took flight, landing gently on the counter as the bubbly woman handed his human directions for the dispensary. Copper climbed onto his shoulders and read the paper as Zach held it up to him.
Feel better? Zach asked him.
Much, Copper was nervous as hell. He'd never lied to him before, but Zach needed this. He needed the guidance of a professional. If he found out that Dr. Tory was a witch, he’d not only stop coming, but would refuse to ever seek help again.
"See you next week, Mr. Hail," the receptionist giggled and waved as Zach turned to leave. She'd clearly never interacted with the visually impaired before.
So what do you think? Copper asked as he guided Zach through the busy sidewalk.
I think I need a drink, Zach laughed as Copper whipped him with his tail, I was kidding! But seriously, though, that was not an emotional rollercoaster I needed to ride today. I'll have to go a few more times I guess, just to see how this pans out. I still can't believe he prescribed me weed.
I like him, Copper said confidently, Seems smart.
Zach sighed internally, you've always had a good judge of character. If I'd listened to you about Daniel, we wouldn't even be in this mess.
Copper curled his little body lovingly around Zach's neck and continued to guide him. His human hadn’t admitted this thought to the dragon before. It made the lizard both happy and sad.
~*~
"I thought you threw all of this stuff out," Eli scolded Natalie as she walked through the door. He was holding Slag's blanket up, a disappointed scowl firmly in place as he glared at her.
"All but that," she gently took it from him, handing it off to the little dragon that stood impatiently at his feet. "I... I just couldn't, and now it's Slag's. So at least someone is using it."
"That's the only thing you kept?" he watched the little creature happily retreat to Natalie's bedroom, dragging the comfort object behind her.
"Yes," Natalie sighed, setting two full grocery sacks down on the counter. "Now, how does steak and lobster sound for dinner?"
"Moving in with my favorite nephew," she gave him a hug and turned back to the bags. "Slag! Come here, I have a treat for you."
"Oh good," Eli said as he sat at the kitchen counter. "She was pretty hungry when I got home. She was trying to open the refrigerator."
The little dragon flew into the room, landing gracefully on the counter, Did you say treat?
I sure did, Natalie pulled a small crappie out of her freshly purchased butcher's pail. Slag snatched it from her, taking off with it.
"Not on the carpet!" Eli called after her. To his delight, Slag obeyed, staying on the kitchen's linoleum floor. He watched the little creature with great interest, "I'll never understand why Grandpa hated them. She's so smart, and beautiful. Just look at those scales! She looks like a dark rainbow, Natalie."
"I'll never understand anything about that man," Natalie filled a skillet with butter, salt, pepper, and a dash of cooking wine. As it simmered she began chopping up a variety of veggies, tossing them into the bubbling saute. "So, how's the patient doing?"
"Very well," Eli turned to her. "She's responding perfectly to all treatments now. Hopefully we'll be able to send her home soon."
"Good," Natalie thought about how frustrated and pent up Zach had been that morning. She hoped that his sister’s recovery would remove some of that. “Anything interesting come into the hospital today?”
“Well, now that you mention it,” Eli stood and walked over to his lab coat that hung by the front door. “We had a young woman come in that was drugged out of her mind. Unfortunately we lost her, but these were in her pocket. I figured maybe you could take them to work. We’ve had several patients with the same symptoms as this particular woman, so I imagine this is the newest thing running through the local drug scene.”
Natalie took the little cellophane baggy from him, examining the three tablets inside. She knew the trademark tiara of pentagrams stamped into them by heart. She’d only lived with the Empirical Coven for five years.
Natalie opened the bag, wafting the air within towards herself. As the magical ether hit her nose she instantly grew dizzy. The bag dropped from Natalie’s hand and Eli rushed to catch her as she fell.
Chapter 7
Natalie sighed as she opened her locker. She lazily pulled her t-shirt over her head as she changed into her uniform, lethargically yanking her undershirt down and tucking it into her pants. She was still woozy from inhaling the magic aura on those pills the night before. The dark magic bound to them was immense, and frighteningly familiar.
As Natalie buttoned up her uniform, Amber closed her locker and smiled at her, “So, how old is your kid?”
“I’m sorry?” Natalie stared at her in terrified confusion.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry,” Amber backtracked when she saw Natalie’s color drain. “I just saw the scar. I have the same one. We can be c-section sisters!”
“Oh, uh,” Natalie was extremely uncomfortable, “it was an ... emergency procedure.”
“Oh?” Amber’s face changed instantly when she realized what Natalie meant. “Oh, God. Natalie, I’m so sorry. I should really learn to mind my own business.”
“No, it’s ok,” Natalie took a deep breath and tried to settle her stomach. “I just, wasn’t ready for that topic to come up today. She would have been almost two.”
“I feel like an ass,” Amber hugged her. “Just punch me the next time I ask something stupid, ok?”
“Careful what you ask for,” Natalie managed a laugh as she pushed the woman off of her, pretending to throw a punch. "I have a mean left.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Amber playfully flinched away from her. “We should do lunch sometime.”
“I’d like that,” Natalie smiled. Amber was a whirlwind of energies, but Natalie truly did enjoy talking with her.
“Well, I better report to Beth,” Amber groaned. “I have a feeling she’s going to put me on the south side today.”
“There’s been a lot of activity there the last few days,” Natalie closed her locker and walked beside her colleague as they left. “I wonder what’s going on.”
“I have no idea,” she complained. “But I’m not really looking forward to partnering with the 3rd.”
“They’re so cocky,” Natalie scoffed, “and literally have no reason to be. They’re the worst precinct in the district.”
“I know, right?” Amber said animatedly. “Good lord. Well, see ya later, Nat.”
Natalie waved to her and headed for Hail’s office. She was certain that he wouldn’t want to talk with her after the ass beating she’d given him yesterday, but he needed to know about the new drugs that were circulating. She smiled and waved to a few of the other officers as she walked. Many of them had congratulated her yesterday when she’d returned to the station to clock out. Apparently news of her sparring match with Hail had been the popular gossip for the day.
Natalie gently knocked on his door frame, “Hail, got a minute?”
“Not if you’re going to beat me up again,” Zach’s voice held humor that his face did not.
“No,” she smiled, “I’ll kick your ass again some other day. I picked something up yesterday that I need to show you.”
“Oh?” he turned to her, genuine interest raising his eyebrows. "You know I can't see it, right?"
“My nephew is a doctor at a local hospital,” she ignored him and dug the little bag out of her pocket as she stepped into his office. “A patient came in with these on her. I’m not sure what the base drug is, but the dark magic in them is potent as hell.”
“No kidding,” he held out his hand, “I can feel it from here.”
The fact that he said he could feel the magic piqued Natalie’s interest, but she’d worry about it later. She handed him the bag and watched as Copper instantly began describing the pills to him.
Zach scoffed, “The Empirical Coven, son of a bitch.”
“They’ve never dealt anything like this before,” Natalie pulled from both her memory within the coven and experience at the 2nd. “Something’s changed.”
“I doubt the girls even know what they’re selling,” he stood, tucking the drugs into his shirt pocket. “You said your nephew found this?”
“Yes,” she knew he’d want to question Eli.
“Let’s go see Betty,” Zach walked around his desk towards the door. “You’re with me today.”
“That’s terrifying,” Natalie mumbled as she followed him through the station. Why did she need to go, too?
"Betty, I need a car," Zach called to the woman from halfway down the hall.
She nearly fell out of her chair laughing, "Not a chance in hell, Hail!"
"I'm not driving, she is," he thumbed over his shoulder at Natalie.
"Officer Lock doesn't have clearance for a vehicle, Hail," Betty scowled at him.
"But I do, sign the damn thing out under my name and hand her the keys," he stopped a few inches in front of her desk with his hands on his hips.
Natalie couldn't help but trace the muscles of his arms with her eyes. It was a shame he was such an asshole. She would have found him attractive if it weren't for the attitude.
"Did you clear this with Levit?" Betty asked grumpily.
"I never clear anything with Levit," he stuck his hand out expectantly. "Keys."
"If he asks, I'm telling him you kidnapped her against her will," Betty begrudgingly pulled out a clipboard and signed out a car, angrily slapping the keys into his hand.
"Catch, Newbie," Zach tossed the keys over his shoulder at Natalie as he turned.
She caught them with ease, rolling her eyes at him, "Pray for me, Betty. Lord knows I'm going to need holy guidance not to kill him."
Betty was still laughing when they made it to the garage. Natalie pressed the lock button on the key fob and a squad car in the middle of the room lit up. Zach headed for it and she followed.
"I hope you know how to drive," Zach stated as he buckled his seatbelt, cradling Copper in his lap.
Natalie scoffed, "I can drive as well as you can run your mouth. Besides, if I'm a bad driver, it's your fault."
"Excuse me?" he tilted his head towards her in confusion.
"You're the one that taught me how to run a course in a car," she smiled as another wave of confusion washed over him. "But then again, you taught a lot of girls how to drive, didn't you?"
"What's your graduating class?" he asked as they pulled out of the station.
"Same as yours," Natalie noticed that Copper was staring at her intently, also trying to place her. "I went by my middle name back then, though."
"Which was?" Zach was clearly getting annoyed.
"Renee," she said it quietly.
Zach sat up off the back of his seat and turned towards her as recognition struck him, "You're fucking kidding me? Right?"
She just giggled and kept driving. Her cheeks had flushed a little as a wide smile crept over her lips. So he did remember her.
"No, you can't be her," Zach shook his head and sat back into his seat. "Renee Lock was a meek little thing that could barely squeak out a command to her unit."
"And Zachariah Hail was a friendly, outgoing man that didn't know a stranger and was always willing to help," she retorted. "Life changes people, Hail, not always for the better either."
Zach used to think you were hot, As Copper spoke, Zach gently smacked him.
"Not true," his fierce blush told her otherwise. "Besides, I was in a serious relationship at the time."
"No worries, Zach," Natalie chuckled. "I thought you were pretty cute, too, even though I was also in a serious relationship."
"Funny how 'serious' never seems to pan out the way it's supposed to," Zach sighed, hugging his dragon to him. "Guess I'm just supposed to be with you, Copper."
Ew, Copper's response had them both laughing. The little dragon looked between the two humans, astonished to find Zach truly smiling. He hadn’t been genuinely humorous or jovial in years.