Urgent Treatment: A Healer's Call

The cabin was quiet, eerily too quiet as Dave and Dean hovered over the unconscious woman that lay on the makeshift cot they'd set up in the small room. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow; the sight tended to make the brothers tense, each about a degree or more helpless with every passing moment.

Dave opened the wooden medicine box they had brought with them from their storage and drew a few supplies out, gently rubbing some ointment on the cut above her head. Dean bent over him, watching his brother's actions with furrowed brows.

"Do you think this will do?" Dean asked in a low tone that belied the doubt they were both feeling.

Dave shook his head. "It's deep. This isn't just a scratch that'll heal overnight.

They exchanged a look; wordless admission that they were in over their heads. Dan, pacing near the door let out an exasperated sigh. "So, we're just gonna sit here and wait for her to heal on her own?

Dave shut the medicine box with a soft click and set it down, running a hand through his hair. "No. We're gonna have to call a healer.

Dean groaned. "You're kidding me, right? We can't just let anyone know we brought a stranger here."

Dan's arms crossed over his chest, the set of his jaw obstinate. "Exactly. Definitely not the pack pokenosers, and don't even get me started on the elders. A bloodhound-like lot, always sniffing out everything we do.".

Dean nodded, a trace irritated. "The elders mean well, sure, but they are way too inquisitive. For any decision that we make, they need to put their two cents in.

Dave let out a slow breath and turned to his brothers. "Look, I know the elders are a pain. And yeah, they're like family. But that doesn't mean they have to know about everything. They can't go against our decisions, but they'd definitely try to find out why we brought someone here."

Dan nodded decisively. "Then we'll just have to be careful. No one else can know.

Dean exhaled heavily, his eyes cast down at the woman. "All right, but if we're calling in a healer, he's got to be someone we thoroughly trust."

A slow smile oozed across Dan's face. "How about Jude?"

Dave did raise an eyebrow, catching on immediately. "You think he'll come without making a scene?"

Dan shrugged, the glint in his eye definitely amused. "Probably not. But I'm more than willing to drag him here.

Dean burst out laughing and clapped his brother on the shoulder. "Alright, you're on kidnap duty then."

The plan set, Dan stepped from the cabin, into the night, making silently for Jude's house on the fringes of the village. It was quiet; most pack were in a deep asleep, the occasional flicker of candlelight through a window here and there. Dan quietly approached Jude's window, lifting the latch and slipping inside.

The room was dark, save for the soft sound of Jude's breathing. Dan grinned to himself, creeping across the floor with practised silence. Jude was sprawled on his bed, one arm cast over his face, entirely oblivious to the scheme about to unfold.

Dan leaned in, settling himself beside the bed. In one swift, economical movement he slapped his hand over Jude's mouth and whispered, "Wake up, sleepyhead. Time to go."

His eyes snapped open, wide in shock. Instantly, Jude's body bucked and he started to struggle fiercely against Dan's hold, thrashing about underneath his grip. His eyes slitted, glinting brightly in a glare that spoke of retribution, even as he wrestled and fought.

Dan did not even flinch, his grin relentless as Jude so clearly wanted to throttle him. Jude's face was a mask of fury, his eyes silently screaming, "I am going to kill you!"

"Oh, come on, Jude," Dan whispered, but wasn't quite managing not to laugh. "You know you're coming with me whether you like it or not.

Jude twisted, trying to wriggle his way out of Dan's hold, but Dan held firm, hauling him upwards and steering him towards the window. Jude was still groggy and disoriented, but he didn't let up with the glaring, his stare just as hostile as ever. Yet Dan knew the threats were empty, Jude would grumble, all right, but he'd forgive him in the end.

Shh, quiet, Dan said, still in a whisper, trying to muffle him. You don't want to wake up half the village, do you?

With one final frustrated sigh, Jude stopped fighting, his eyes telling Dan with no little passion that he would make him pay for this later. Guiding him carefully through the window, Dan lowered him to the ground. Not releasing his arm, Dan sidestepped through silent shadows, keeping well clear of sparsely scattered torchlight throughout the village.

They reached the cabin where Dave and Dean were standing by the door. Dan opened it gingerly and gave Jude a slight shove inside. The instant Jude was free, he whirled around, his face purple with rage.

"What the hell, Dan?" Jude thundered in a thick whisper, well across the room. "You drag me from bed in the middle of the night-literally drag me here just to bring me here?"

Dan laughed and threw his hands up in mock innocence. "Hey, we needed a healer, and you were the only one I trusted enough not to spill our secret."

Jude crossed his arms over his chest; his face was a cross between annoyance and begrudging humour. "You're lucky I don't actually carry through on half the threats I make, or you'd be in serious trouble right now.

Dean cuffed a hand on Jude's shoulder, grinning. "Come on, Jude. You know you secretly love all this chaos."

Jude rolled his eyes, though his lips quivered in a small smile. "Yeah, well, next time just ask. I might be your friend, but even I like my beauty sleep.

Dave stepped forward, nodding towards the injured woman laying on the cot. "We're sorry for the rough wake-up call, Jude. But we had no choice. She's seriously hurt and we couldn't risk anyone else knowing."

As Jude neared her now-to peer at her closely-his features softened; the instincts of a healer kicked in. Dropping on his knees beside her, he delicately brushed her hair back from the wound. Frowning as he peered at her, he murmured something under his breath.

"This isn't good," he said now, far more somber. "She will need proper care. I'll do what I can, but it'll take some time.

The brothers watched Jude get to work, a calm focus settling over him as he moved with practiced skill. They'd seen this side of him before-the way his usual sass fell away when he was healing someone replaced by a quiet strength and determination.

He cleaned the wound and started stitching it, his face deadpan with exasperation and wry as he glanced up at the brothers. "Next time you decide to kidnap me, at least let me bring my supplies along. This medicine box is ancient."

Dan laughed, unrepentant. "We'll keep that in mind. But, hey, admit it-you wouldn't miss this kind of excitement.

Jude glowered at him, but his mouth twitched in a slow unwilling smile. "One of these days, Dan you're going to find yourself on my table, and I won't go easy on you."

Dan snorted. "Promises, promises."

As he finished up, Jude put the supplies away and then wiped his hands on the cloth before standing, facing the brothers with a sigh.

"She's fine for now, but I'll have to take a look at her tomorrow," he said, light and firm in his tone. "And next time, just knock on my door. Dragging me out of bed is uncalled for, don't you think?"

Dan laughed, slinging an arm over his shoulders. "We'll keep that in mind, but you know this was so much better.

Jude gave him an unimpressed glare; then he blew out an irritated sigh. "You're impossible, all of you."