There had been plenty that frequented the hospitals that Rocket occupied, but never had there been many that had held much power in the league. Especially when he had to sedate the man immediately because of how horribly he reacted to standard treatment. He'd snapped on two nurses, two young ladies that Laurence oversaw. That was why he had been chained to the cot that he lay in, like a ghoul that had been bound to its coffin. And even then, when he had woken and one of the women went to go fetch the doctor, they'd been audibly uncomfortable with how startled he'd been. 

It'd be a moment for Navy to take in his surroundings, to get his eyes adjusted to the fluorescent lighting that had previously blinded him. He'd feel the way his arms had seemed to be a few degrees colder, the IV bag that had been carefully put in to nourish him, but also the feeling of numbness that seemed to swaddle him, courtesy of treating the strange new chain that had managed to worm its way into many others' system. For someone who thought he had been a prisoner, he'd been treated right. Fortunately, so. 

"You're awake now, huh? You know you put up quite the fight when the ladies brought you in... Truly, you owe them an apology."

The sheriff hadn't even heard the door open, but rather in the muddy brain of his currently, he'd know that this was none of the women from before. Another Nurse perhaps? The Doctor that they'd promise to grab? The heart monitor would chirp to the emotion that Navy would feel, either exposing his dread or solace. The disembodied voice would come closer, and in the blinding lights he'd be able to put a face to the voice. Whoever this man was, it had shown in the scrubs, a dark letter "R" that'd been sewn into it. A member of Rocket. The man spoke, his voice calm yet not reassuring.

"One of the Elite Four, Navy. Apologies if you feel a bit groggy, but can you speak? I'm Laurence Whateley, a doctor here in Sootopolis. I'm sure you have a lot of questions."

Navy

The man looked like Deerling in headlights the way he looked around the place those eyes of his wary and faintly accusatory...Granted, many would have acted that way had they woken up and found themselves strapped to their cot, no one liked being unable to move, that much he understood.

“There isn’t any need to apologize to me, I’m just saying you are quite the tough patient. I’m sure you helped the nurses know what work would be cut out for them here anyways.”

The doctor shook his head, almost as if waving off the apology and absolving him on the nurse’s behalves. His laugh turned coughing fit seemed to get him a cup of water, in a smooth motion a cup was brought to him to at least alleviate him of it. When Navy was done with his fill, the doctor gently placed the cup on his tray, beside two pills and a needle.

Fuck…Temp really did…a number on me.

“I don’t think just a fight had done you in like this. Unless Tempest planned on leaving you in a damn well ‘near death’s door’ experience, we can add a few more reasons as to why you’re like this. Like first being, the last time you’ve gotten any sort of medical help?”

His words weren’t admonishments, rather they were observations, easily played as concerns too. Laurence took a seat, bringing it up as he moved it towards Navy’s cot, trying to close the distance between them. The next question should have been expected, though judging from Laurence’s facial expression, it was easily shown that the doctor hadn’t heard of him being a prisoner.

“Huh? You’re no prisoner I know of. If you’re worried about the straps, then we did it because you were convulsing pretty heavily. You were a danger mostly to yourself, couldn’t even keep water down without it seeming like you were going to choke on it. As for why you aren’t on the submarine…Let’s say I’m best away from the headquarters. I enjoy my office, I can work freely here.”

With another tone of frankness, Laurence looked back at his clipboard, his eyes scanning through the paperwork he had nearly kept on it as he waited for another question to be asked by the patient. However, had he and Navy had the same thought, he’d be the first one to answer them.

“If it makes you feel better, I can loosen them. However, I can’t tell you what running will do with you. You have a few stitches that will need to be looked at again, running and trying anything dumb could tear them. So all I ask of ya is to go and stay still and answer a few questions of mine too.”

Navy

“January, huh? That is pretty long ago…You’ve gotta take much better care of yourself, especially if you don’t like ending up in these scenarios.”

He wrote something back down on his clipboard, recording something with those swift movements of his pen. However, while he wrote, his brow had raised as if he awaited to answer his previous question. He could tell that Navy had wanted to be set from those restraints, but until he’d give confirmation on not trying to run, then truly there was little he could do for him. So, when he finally agreed to the stipulations of it, Laurence got from his chair, letting out a breath of relief. Okay then, he’d be released.

The restraints were easy to undo for the man, the cloth strips unraveling from his limbs as the doctor rummaged around the bed, trying to keep the man as comfortable as he could. Once Laurence had finished, the doctor rolled the small table towards the patient, on its surface being the cup of water he had and some other things that could have only been for him as well. Once he finished, he’d find his rolling chair, plop himself right back down on it, and got ready to ask his question before it’d already been brought up.

What can I do for you?

“Well, what you can first tell me, is how exactly you got here. I am serious about not taking care of your health, but there are other reasons that brought you here, to Sootopolis. Especially since you can tell this is Rocket territory.”

Of course, this was important. The idea of what had brought him here was needed yes, but there was much more than his medical problem that needed to be addressed. Navy had been known in the league, he’d been on television, and surely he knew that. His ending up in Rocket’s clutches had to have been for a reason…No one just willingly threw themselves at their enemy.

“Ah, I should apologize, try to drink some water before you speak again, and have that with the red pill. It’ll help with the inflammation and dehydration you have. I’ll be patient.”

Navy

At least he was compliant. Laurence had a history of dealing with those who were the most noncompliant people...So, this was a sort of refreshing thing. The sheriff's offhand comment about the pills had also made Laurence let a breathy laugh, shaking his head at the thought of it, but the laugh was over when the man began to recount his encounter with Tempest Quinn. He must have been lucky to have gotten such a thing from a member of Rocket...

"Well, from what I see...you're in no condition right now to do much, so unless it's to recover...you're pretty stuck."

Laurence put his head to his neck, awkwardly breaking the news that the man would need at least give himself time before he could even think about going back to whatever he did. As Navy stares at the television, the doctor follows his gaze, trying to piece what even the man could have drawn from a bunch of commercials that played about...

"They fucked with everyone pretty bad. Many survived, but many suffered horrible effects of them. Be lucky you are the ones who died. But, also, make sure that you look out for yourself so that you don't die in the future from such. Now...The next question, why were you and Tempest Quinn fighting...I don't know about you, but you being someone from the League in Rocket territory isn't the safest option."

Navy