Work Text
It was supposed to be a work meeting. Dr Pelton had proposed to Dr Headwood that the two get together and compare notes before the imminent division of the train. It would make sense, of course, for Pelton to be able to create goop, to regenerate tissue, to integrate some of the less questionable treatments that the Headwoods had produced. After all, it did seem that large numbers would be staying, and on an ever disintegrating train there were likely to be medical needs.Headwood, on the other hand, would benefit from the medical history of those she departed with, and wanted to work out an appropriate allocation of supplies. But, the train being as disrupted as it was, the pair had ended up in Pelton's second class quarters. Out of politeness, she had offered a drink, and one drink had become a bottle. The conversation had been surprisingly easy and light, so long as they didn't dwell too long on ethical debate. Headwood had discovered that they had mutual friends before the freeze, old colleagues who were top of their respective fields. Some who had been supposed to board. As they reminisced, their voices grew softer, until a silence fell between them. "To those we left behind" said Pelton quietly, raising what was left of her glass. Headwood raised her own, then drank the last of her it. "There's been… so much death" she began. "People think that I am unbothered by it but that has never been true. Yes, I may be a bit eccentric, and yes, I curried Wilford's favour thanks to our breakthroughs, but I am still human. I'm still in pain."She instinctively touched her hand to the shoes on her lap. Dr Pelton reached forward and patted her on the hand warmly. "I'm sorry about your husband" she said, voice barely above a whisper. "It is a pain so… it's something no-one should have to live through. It eats you up, that sudden emptiness, going from being half another soul, to being on your own. The weight of it is…" she tailed off."It is." Replied Headwood, not needing to complete the sentence. "I feel terrible thinking it but it's almost worse that it was flu. A doctor dying of flu is somehow shameful."Pelton shook her head, "not at all. It was a horrible outbreak and we didn't have the supplies."Headwood just nodded, knowing that her husband had, against Wilford's demands, prioritised some of Snowpiercer's passengers."You talk like you know about death," she said, lifting her eyes to look directly at Pelton."Don't we all," she replied sarcastically, "but yes. Anna was… the better half of me. Before the freeze she used to light up the room with her smile. She was one of those aggressively happy people, all bouncing curls and spinning skirts.""Did you have to leave her?" Headwood asked softly."No, she was ticketed as next of kin. I had to fight for that, mind, especially getting her up in second without an academic background. No, she boarded with me."Pelton paused, tears prickling her eyes. Headwood had taken her hand comfortingly, a sympathetic sadness on her face."She was what Wilford - well, we thought it was Wilford - called The Ungrateful Dead. There were about 25 over that first year. People who just… couldn't cope any more. All the planning that went into this train, all the champagne in first, I doubt he even stopped to think that people might not want to live here, once they arrived. She never really was herself, the minute we departed. She used to tell me that she couldn't get the faces of the people outside out of her mind." The two sat in silence for a while, neither knowing how to continue the conversation. Finally, Headwood broke the silence."We have to go on, for them, don't we?" "Yes, I think we do. Or else all these revolutions have been for nothing." Fin.
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"Here she is, Winnie," said Miss Gillies as they approached the open door to the medical bay. Dr Pelton crouched down, placing her hands on Winnie's shoulders warmly. "Now then, let's look at you. I think you've grown another inch!" She said, patting her head in jest. "Let's check those teeth too."Winnie smiled a cheesy grin at the doctor, who mockingly covered her eyes."Dazzling white," she laughed. "Thanks for bringing her by, I know you're busy," she directed at the teacher. "Of course," Miss Gillies smiled back. "Lights will be by soon, I let her know that Winnie was coming to say goodbye to you before she headed back down train."Dr Pelton lifted Winnie up onto one of the beds with a smile, making them level. Miss Gillies relaxed back into the doorframe, watching the pair laugh and joke. It was wonderful, she thought, how the little quiet tailie girl had found friendship with the doctor.Dr Pelton pulled a cardboard box out from a nearby cupboard, and placed it carefully on the bed next to Winnie. "I've been saving some bits and bobs for you to take to New Eden. There's some socks and gloves that I managed to pick up from the market. They might be a bit big for now but it won't be long until you grow into them. A couple of things in there for Lights too, you can tell her she's free to tinker with them and see what she can come up with. You're taking your school books aren't you? There's some good sharp pencils in there somewhere," she said, rummaging through the contents. "Oh, and do you know what this is?"Winnie shook her head."This is, as far as I know, the last pack of goldfish crackers on Planet Earth. Probably not very edible any more but… I thought you might like to look after them for me."Winnie looked perplexed, but smiled nonetheless."And I packed you these. It's just a couple of candles, you can use them for whatever but I thought maybe, if you wanted, you could light them when you're thinking about your mom and your brother."Winnie leant forward to hug the doctor. Miss Gillies watched them thoughtfully, her heart hurting as she recalled the horrors the poor child had lived through, being born into the Tail, knowing no world beyond the metal walls of the train. Children shouldn't have to be resilient, but there was no other word for Winnie. She barely spoke, and yet had forced her way into the Resistance over and over, even as adults tried to turn her away. She was smart too, quietly brilliant when given the chance. Miss Gillies was sad to lose her as a student, but knew that there were those who would help Winnie continue to grow and learn.Lights let out a small "hey" as she arrived, and Miss Gillies stepped inside the car to let her pass. She nodded at the Doctor, before turning to Winnie, who promptly jumped down from the bed and grabbed her box, bounding over to Lights happily. "Thank you both," Lights began not really sure what else to say, still feeling the awkwardness of Class between them. "You two take care of each other out there. We'll see you again, I'm sure," replied Pelton optimistically. "And Winnie -" she called, as they passed through the door, " - don't forget to brush your teeth!"The doctor and the teacher smiled as the visitors turned down the corridor. "You're really fond of her, aren't you?" "She's a good girl, Mary. Do you know she helped me bandage wounds during the rebellion? This frightened little bird at my door, quick as a flash she got to work.""She's a good judge of character," Mary replied, "she knew you were on her side.""Yes, she is. I do believe she's even forgiven Ruth. She doesn't let on to how she's feeling, but you just know when she trusts somebody. It's nice. It reminds me of my daughter."Mary paused, studying the older woman's face carefully."I didn't know you had a daughter," she eventually responded. "Did she -, was she -?""She was working out in London when the freeze came. Anna and I managed to get through to her a few hours before we set off. It was hard, on Anna, to know that she was left out there. I regret the call. It made it feel much worse. She was with her dad, at the end. Anna's ex. So at least she wasn't alone." Dr Pelton sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to tell you my life story. I'm sure you've got things to be getting on with, before the separation."Mary shook her head. "I'm all sorted. Do you need any help taking supplies over?""Headwood's been for the last lot already. I guess now we just wait.""I guess so. Do you want to -" Mary blushed a little as she spoke. "I was just wondering if you'd like to hang out for a while. Have some tea. As- as friends I mean. I don't feel like being alone right now, with all this change.""Do you know," said Pelton, "I'd really like that. As friends."She chipped the door closed behind her, as they set off down the corridor.