The Gig [Finished]

[accalia]

Tony waits, it's something that he has a lot of practice with as a cop. Vic will talk if he wants to, and it's only a matter of time until they get an update on Andrew. Tony knows that the finger is relatively easily fixed, the real danger's in the fever. Vic's holding up well, but that's no reason to offer support if he wants it.

[yamikuronue]

"The Boss is going to be mad," says Vic quietly, after a while of tense, anxious silence.

[accalia]

"Let him." Tony replies calmly "Family is more important than your job."

[yamikuronue]

"My boss is kind of a hardass." says Vic, quietly. "Without my income, food'll be tight." He pauses, then adds, "doubly so if Andy can't work for a while."

[accalia]

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Life finds a way, and you have resources to help you." Tony means himself, but he's also fully aware that making that offer right now would be a bad idea.

[yamikuronue]

Yeah. Yeah, okay. I can do this. I'm strong, or at least scrappy. I can make ends meet even if I have to steal or beg to do so. Vic takes a deep, steadying breath, letting his lip go in the process. His back straightens, and the steel comes back into his eyes. I can do this.

[accalia]

Tony notices that, good. that determination's what's needed in the kid.

[yamikuronue]

Fifteen minutes later, after Bill turns in a form for Andy, the nurse and he get into a short, terse discussion. The word "later!" is heard a few times, ever more passionately; the nurse remains calm, but her expression gets more and more displeased. This is probably about the bill...

[accalia]

Tony sighs. "I'd better see what's up..."

and with that he stands and walks over to Bill. "What's all this then?" he asks, unconsciously falling into the "son, do you know why i pulled you over?" voice.

[yamikuronue]

The nurse turns to Tony. "Ideally, given the payment history of the patient and family, we'd set up a payment plan for treatment before the patient leaves."

"And I'm telling you, I'll pay, but not right now."

[accalia]

Tony looks at the paperwork in Bill's hands for a moment before taking the documents to examine closer.

"My, that's an awfully steep price list you have here. I send my officers here all the time and their price lists aren't nearly this steep. Are you sure you have the right listing? I'd double check it if I were you."

Huh, so that's why Tony said to go to this hospital, even though there was another one closer to Vic's apartment.

[yamikuronue]

Her face clears into a pleasant neutral expression. "Ah, you're with the precinct! One moment, I'll fetch the amended list after the officer discount." Then she's off toward her desk again.

[accalia]

"I always did suspect they were offering a discount..." Tony mutters under his breath "One more thing to add to my list to sort out i guess."

Out loud Tony hands out orders once more "Once you get the updated prices send the bill along to the precinct, attention Captain Cafaro. I'll deal with collecting from the boy's family." Turning to Bill tony continues "We always need desk corporals to sort the paperwork, see?"

[yamikuronue]

Bill nods. "Andy could use a... medical leave from his current job. I think it'd sit well with him, working off his debt to you."

[accalia]

"I'm glad you're agreeable. It'll probably be a week or more before he's fit to start working, even a desk job. We'll want to have someone working that debt down before then. Probably in shifts, it's not like the work takes much training."