Angelique was the last one down to the workshop/classroom. Up on the whiteboard was the familiar scenario review format with the two patients from last night filled in as far as injuries and problems. Her mind started the process of checking and matching up the interventions she did against the problems listed. She was so focused on this, she didn’t pay attention to what the other four in the room were doing. A noise behind her made her turn around.
All four were standing beside one of the workbenches along the wall watching her work.
“What?”
Garen answered. “Just watching you work. Come on over here for a moment. We will get to the debrief in a few minutes.” He had a smile on his face. They all did, she noticed. Angelique walked across the room to where they were. Garen started speaking again.
“When you got here, you told us you would do whatever you could to help out around here to make yourself useful in the efforts to get the men who attacked and killed your family, and make no mistake, you did and were quite helpful. When you were injured, we started looking for what we could teach you while you healed up. Combat skills were too physical for the most part, so we went with medicine. You attacked it with a gusto rarely seen by any of us. You still have a lot to learn about medical conditions and ailments, but right now, you are higher trained and much more capable than most combat medics. Last night proved it beyond any question.”
Bekka started speaking at this point. “From day one, we considered you an adult among us, in thought and in deed, an equal in most things. You did what you set out to do, and got hurt in the process. You threw yourself into learning, so you could still help us. It seemed like you were still trying to prove yourself useful because you had no place to go otherwise. Make no mistake, you are a full-fledged member of this team, this family of sorts. Most people in life have two families; the one they are born into and the one they choose to be in. The first happens, the second is a choice.” Now Kara took over.
“We don’t look at you as a ‘junior member or a tag-a-long. You are a valuable part of this group and it’s time you realized it if you haven’t already. Yes, we have been teaching you a bunch of stuff, but that’s our fault.” She pointed at Garen, Bekka and herself. “When you get a new person in a unit, you train them in the things you need them to know. That’s what we have been doing. The next step is to keep training, both in the skills you already know and in new ones. That’s where we are now. You are physically healed enough we can work on more things, go more places and train in more skills.” Allyson started speaking at this point.
“This is the ‘learn more things’ stage. We all are training now on many topics such as improving wilderness skills and knowledge for one. I have less than everybody else, so in this I am the student, learning from them,” She waved her hand at the group. “And from you. I’ll be teaching more things in people watching and interaction, Bekka will be making all of us smarter on radios, Kara and Garen will be adding to what we are learning. In this, we will all teach each other, as a team does.” Garen spoke next.
“When you first got here, we threw some gear at you and took off to save the world. When you were hurt, we focused on your mind. Now, we will be doing more and more training in the physical realm, so it’s time to address some things.” He picked up something from the table behind him and held it out. “Although the Hi-Power you have been carrying is good, its better you have a pistol that matches everyone else’s. He holds out one of the custom 10mm 1911’s like the ones riding in everyone’s holsters.
Angelique turned it over and over in her hands. She liked the Hi-power she had been carrying these past months, but this was a work of art! It sank into her strong hands and settled just right!
Bekka was grabbing things off of the bench behind her, “With a new pistol, you need a new holster, mag holders and so forth. With your experience now, plus your newly acquired medical skills, here is a new battlebelt and pouches to set up your rig for you, not just what someone else thinks should work.” She held out a belt with holster and a bunch of other pouches half attached. It looked like the same basic parts everyone else was wearing now. Angelique looked back up when Allyson started talking.
“You and I have spent many hours killing Waldo down the hallway. You need a way to do more than just spot things. Garen can give you a rundown of its specs and build, but here is your long gun.” Allyson held out a classic looking tool of wood and steel. Bolt action, bull barrel, and a flat brown finish looking like age created instead of some new wonder coating. The only modern looking thing on it was the scope. The rest of it could be from the fifties.
Kara was next. “One of the things you found out in your fight in the town was you don’t have enough mass to slug it out toe to toe with bigger attackers. I understand. I have the same problem. We have to rely on speed and skill. The belt knife you have is great for all the general knifework and some fighting, but with your wingspan and narrow frame, you need an edge.” She held out a long blade, easily seventeen or eighteen inches in length. “A short sword will do things a smaller blade will struggle with. We are all going to be practicing and learning how to use the longer blades soon. I’ll be teaching since I was the one hanging out with the Renfaire people and learning. This steel is about a hundred years old and made back when lives depended on its strength.” She handed it to Angelique. A strange gleam appeared in her eyes as she held the blade.
Garen stepped forward again. “A team should work together, just like a family should. Let’s help her get things situated as we dissect last night’s medical exercise.”
There were heartfelt embraces all around. Although she had been comfortable here before, Angelique realized this truly felt like home, a feeling she was afraid she lost forever with the loss of her father and grandfather.