Hell's Greatest Doctor
“So, this is a Deadly Sin?” Angel Dust asked, face scrunching up in disbelief. Stitches clamped her hand over her mouth, suppressing a giggle. Belphegor was sitting on a couch in the lobby, her long, thin body still taking up the entire piece of furniture, due to her giant size. Both of her sets of arms were clasped together on her stomach and chest, and her head was hanging down as she softly snored. All of her eyes, even on her long neck, were closed in peaceful slumber. The small flame on the candle part of her head danced lazily. But all Stitches could think was:
“OMG, she is so CUTE!” she squealed. She wanted so badly to pet her soft looking lamb ears, but she resisted by holding her arms to her body, ignoring the pain of her wounds there. Lucifer had explained that his angelic healing magic provided temporary pain relief, and it was definitely starting to wear off. But not enough to really react to just yet.
Lucifer chuckled beside her. “Yeah, she is kind of adorable. Her ring is actually the closest to what Heaven looks like, all pastels and white. Probably to help make it calm and healing, though I am not a huge fan. But, Angel, probably shouldn’t offend her. She’s a pacificist most of the time, but she is also a masterful chemist with an intimate knowledge of the biology of all living creatures. She’s also kinda vindictive and plays the long-game. You will suffer for thousands of years and, at the same time, she will make sure you beg for more .”
Angel smirked and gave a suggestive raise of his eyebrow, and Stitches lightly smacked him. “Get your mind out of the gutter. God, you are such a bottom bitch!”
Angel rolled his eyes and bent down to meet Stitches eyes, one set of arms on his hips, and one crossed on his chest. “The fact ya know so much abou’ kink play proves I’m not the only one wit’ a dirty mind, Sis.”
Stitches groaned and pushed his face away. “Must run in the fucking family.”
Lucifer chuckled and moved forward, nudging the sleeping Sin of Sloth. She slowly blinked awake, looking down to see who had disturbed her. Seeing Lucifer, she gave a sleepy smile and yawned, stretching before looking around at the trio.
“Hmm, this must be the young Sinner who you summoned me for,” she murmured, looking at Stitches curiously. Her voice and words were soft and slow. “Must say, not often someone so doll-like ends up here. That’s usually a Heaven trait.”
The words held no malice, but the suggestion made her skin crawl, and she bristled at the suggestion. She hugged herself tighter, wincing at the pain. “Yeah, well, if they wanted me, I would be there, but guess I didn’t meet their standards. Besides, I prefer being where I have the freedom to be imperfect, not held back by bureaucracy.”
Bel blinked and then let out a little laugh. It was like a small bell tinkling. “Oh, Luci, I see why you are attached to this young one. She has spunk, just like you!” Her eyes were full of tender mischief. “I like you, little one. It is a pleasure to meet you.” She reached out a hand, which Stitches eagerly took to shake. Bel’s brow furrowed upon contact. “You are quite unwell.”
Stitches gulped, knowing what she meant, but decided to play it off. “Ha-ha, yeah, well, cannibal attack, amiright?”
Bel didn’t push, only stood, her hand still grasping Stitches’ gently. “Lucifer, where can this little one and I go for a full exam?”
“Down the left hall. At the end, turn right, and you’ll be in one of the private counseling rooms Charlie set up.”
Bel nodded and put a hand behind Stitches’ back, slowly guiding her there. Normally Stitches would have been nervous, and she still was, but something about that gentle, constant pressure was soothing. In fact, her whole aura was soothing, lulling her into a comfortable, almost hazy feeling. It was nice, her anxiety slowly receding with each step.
Once they were in the room, Bel motioned for her to go sit on the chaise, while the Sloth demon closed and locked the door. She then motioned for her to lie down, which she obeyed, almost as though in a trance. “My powers allow me to see and feel the mental and biological status of those I come in contact with,” the demon explained. “I can examine you without the need to remove your clothing, though I will have to put my hands quite close to examine your inner anatomy. Do I have your consent?”
Stitches nodded and watched as Bel’s hands glowed with a faint periwinkle light. As her hands went over her, her touch featherlight, she slowly closed her eyes. It was warm and relaxing, almost like some sort of massage. She couldn’t remember ever being this relaxed. It could get addicting. She wondered if maybe Bel added this strange power to some of her drugs, medicinal and recreational. If she did, it would definitely explain why they were so popular for Sinners and Hellborn alike.
The warmth stopped over her uterus. “You gave birth in life?” The words were gentle, and strictly professional, but it triggered the tears immediately. The relaxed feeling stayed on her like a weighted blanket, or it would have surely made her physically retreat, but it did nothing for the swirl of emotions that flooded her. If anything, it compounded them,
“N-No- I mean- technically- but…” She took a deep breath to control her sobs. “She… She was already gone.”
*
Bel pulled her hand away, and Stitches was able to sit up and pull her knees to her chest, burying her face there and sobbing. Bel gently rubbed her back in soothing patterns until she calmed back down. She didn’t ask any questions, but Stitches filled in the blanks anyway, the pain needing an outlet now that it had surfaced. “I had trouble trying to conceive. My spouse and I struggled for years after our marriage. We were finally successful, but that one… didn’t make it past the first trimester. So we were so excited for our precious little Rainbow. We named her Iris, we were so excited. But then…” she bit her lip. “My spouse and I were attacked when I was at 30 weeks. My spouse was killed in front of me and then I was- they- I…” She took a shaky breath, shaking her head, “What they did almost killed me too, and the damage to my body… it killed her. I had to… deliver her body...”
*
Bel took a deep breath and startled by the sudden cold in the room, Stitches looked up. The Sin was growing in size and morphed from a dream into a nightmare, her full demon form frightening, even as she knew the anger was not directed at her. Still, it paralyzed her. Lucifer had not been joking, Bel was certainly capable of being devastatingly vengeful.
Bel looked at her, and her face changed, her form receding and her aura becoming gentle once more. “I apologize. The atrocity of such violence… I can only imagine the pain and sorrow. I am sorry I brought up such horrible memories for you. It was not my intention.”
Stitches shivered and put her chin on her knees looking down at her feet. “It isn’t your fault. I’m not the first woman to suffer from fertility issues or miscarriages, or to lose the person I love… or to be nearly killed by horny, evil men. It could have been worse-”
Bel gently tilted her face up by her chin. “Just because someone else has gone through the same pain or to a different degree than you does not negate your own experiences. Pushing it down or minimizing it does nothing but cause it to churn inside, until the emotional becomes psychological, which in turn becomes physical. Every part of you is connected, and neglecting a wound on the heart will lead to wounds on the body, sooner or later.”
Stitches whimpered, wishing she could run away. It was her go-to when dealing with something uncomfortable. But she had promised to stay, promised to meet with Bel and let her help. So, she finally nodded, and let the giant sheep lady soothe her so they could continue the exam.
After Bel had done a full exam, she summoned a notebook and logged a bunch of notes. Stitches was lying on the chaise, staring at the ceiling quietly, waiting. She had started shivering at some point, so Bel had covered her in a soft afghan. She was starting to feel sleepy again, the exertion, mentally and physically, of her sobs, as well as the return of pain in her wounds, had worn her out. Finally, Bel cleared her throat, drawing her attention back, as she turned her head to look at her with tired eyes.
“Would you be amicable to me calling Lucifer in to discuss my findings and discuss a treatment plan?” she asked softly. “If you would rather keep it between us, I would understand-”
“No!” Stitches yelped, sitting up quickly. It started the sheep, so she swallowed to control herself, continuing more calmly. “I mean, please, call him and Angel Dust in. I don’t do well with treatment plans if I don’t have support. They are my family now, and I trust them. Anything I tell you or you find, I want you to tell them too.” She looked down and whispered, “I need their help.”
Bel nodded and went to the door, unlocking and opening it. She stuck her head out, and Lucifer and Angel must have been waiting close by because they quickly came inside. Angel rushed over, and when Stitches put out her arms, he quickly embraced her. As soon as she could let go, he sat down so she could lay her head in his lap, softly combing her hair with his fingers. Lucifer came and sat down at the opposite end, gently putting her feet on his lap. The elevation felt good, and he took off her flats and started gently massaging the bottoms of her feet, one of the few places with no wounds.
“Well,” Bel sighed, seating herself across from them and referring to her notes. “She has a lot of damage and trauma, in all meanings of those words. Mentally, she is showing severe instability fueled by depression and anxiety, and caused by unimaginable abuse and trauma. This is the root of many of her other issues, and we will need to address those things as well as the physical healing if she is to make a recovery. Of course, that is going to be a long journey, and require copious amounts of therapy, perhaps even some medication.”
“Whatever she needs, I will cover the cost and arrange a schedule for it.” Lucifer’s promise was laced with determination. Yeah, he’s not going to let me out of a single session. That’s why I wanted him here, but… ugh…
“Emotionally,” Bel continued, “she is quite raw and fragile. Don’t be surprised if she reacts more strongly to triggers or has an increase in mood swings. Crying, lashing out, or even dissociating and going catatonic are all possibilities. She is going to have to have a stable, secure environment that is loving and supportive. I don’t recommend she leave the hotel grounds, and she most certainly cannot be left alone. Treat her as though she is on suicide watch, and keep her away from substances and sharp objects until I clear her. You may have to take shifts to watch over her but think about finding others you can trust to help carry the burden. You can’t help her if you yourselves are collapsing.”
Angel looked into Stitches' eyes, asking a silent question. She smiled up sadly at him and reached up to stroke his cheek. “She’s not wrong, I… still want to… you know…” It hurt to put it into words, to admit that even in this moment, she wanted to feel pain, to die. But lying wasn’t going to help her get better. They needed to know, so they could help stop her. Or she would drown in it, and next time, she may not be found in time. Angel nodded, in understanding, pulling her a little closer.
Bel nodded, giving Stitches a nod of approval for her honesty. “Physically, that one is just as complicated. Obviously, her wounds are severe, but with Lucifer helping to heal them, I am less concerned with them at the moment, though I will be leaving some ointments to help speed up the process and help keep them sterilized between treatments.” She took a deep breath. “However, my biggest concern is her dietary needs. She has a more full figure, but it is what is healthy for her, and this sudden weight loss is a shock to her system. It is negatively affecting her organs, muscles, and of course, adding strain to her body.”
Stitches felt Lucifer’s grip tighten slightly on her feet. She wanted to soothe him too, but her body was feeling heavier and heavier from exhaustion, the rising pain levels making her unwilling to move. So, she flexed her foot, hoping it would be enough. He continued to massage it again, so she assumed he got the message.
“Getting her back to eating regularly should fix that problem, though I will need to add some supplements and medication to help restore function to her body again and help reverse some of the damage. Start slow with broths and gentle smoothies. From there, upgrade to semi-solids, like chowders, pudding, and some softer foods. She can then slowly reintegrate into regular solids and start eating regular meals. Little one, is there anything we should know about your eating habits in this state?”
Her mouth felt thick and dry with sleep, her eyes closed now. She moaned, trying to wake up enough to answer. “Mm, I- have trouble eating- like this. Some foods- easier- some- harder.” She groaned and turned her head towards Angel and whimpered, earning her soft pets while he murmured praise on her for talking.
“Hmm, well, once she has rested, she can give you a list of foods that she has an easier time with. I will give you a full dietary needs plan, as well as details on what food groups and nutrients she will need daily at each stage. It’s a loose guideline, but should help her recovery without too much trouble. We can adjust as needed. It often takes much longer to recover from starving one’s self than it does to get someone to that point in the first place.”
“That makes sense,” Lucifer acknowledged. He gave a small squeeze to her foot, but it made her whimper, as even that small pressure sent shots of pain up her leg. She felt both Angel and Lucifer tense beneath her. “Sweetie, is the pain back?” he asked softly. She nodded, grimacing from the movement. “I need to start another session, the healing magic must be reaching its limit.”
A fresh wave of comfort washed over Stitches, and she felt herself falling asleep. “I shall assist,” Bel said, her voice fading in the background. “She should fall asleep in a moment, and then we can move her to the table for better access.”
“Sleep, kid.” Angel brushed her hair again. “We got ya.”