Which means on a normal person…It’s probably a nine.”

Jack smiled a rather awkward smile back, slightly amused but slightly embarrassed that he was so transparent. Despite his father’s flaws (and they were many), Jack respected the man for being a “man’s man” and he tried to emulate that as best he could. He didn’t show physical weakness and in his line of work that was a good thing. Sure he could have a sense of humor about it with the Healer since there was no point in hiding it as he was already there, but even the jokes brought him down. Thankfully he was not the brooding, whiney type so he could move on soon enough, and Gabriel was one of the good ones so he wouldn’t dwell on the comment for longer than a moment, making sure though to note the “strongman” connotation.

“Do you know how it re-opened?” he asked as he tried to clean the gash as gently as he could. “Been active on the leg a lot?…Ah, thank you.

He had to pause before he answered since expletives were on the tip of his tongue from the Healer’s attempts at cleaning his leg. “No more than usual,” he finally replied, fidgeting slightly as the man organized the ominous looking bottles and positively wincing as he saw him reach for the dreaded blue bottle.

“Should help with the pain,”

The Auror hesitantly took the cup, smilingly ruefully as he thought about the many ways he avoided taking medicine as a boy and wondering if such a prank would work now. Probably not. “Whatever you say, Doc,” he murmured before quickly swallowing the stuff, a shiver running down his spine. He was starting to wonder if this was even a good idea at all…He could probably deal with it on his own if he got some books and advice on these types of wounds. He was a clever wizard so why not? If he actually looked down at the nasty gash he would probably realize why not but he was choosing not to.

“Let me know when the potions start to take affect,”

“How do I know what you just gave me won’t turn me into a newt?” he questioned, leaning back on the bed so he was more comfortable for the next part that was sure to make him particularly uncomfortable. “Or perhaps cause my leg to just fall off? You’d like that wouldn’t you, ya’ Quack…” He smiled a little, wishing he had some liquor.