Max- Man-of-war Recovery

  IT TURNED OUT that Gazzy had been stung by a Portuguese man-of-war, an incredibly dangerous and even deadly jellyfish.

  “Actually, it’s not a real jellyfish,” the navy doctor explained. “So its toxins are different, and we treat it differently.”
...

  But Gazzy really looked bad. They’d removed the man-of-war with gloved hands, dunked Gazzy in salt water, slathered him with goo, and given him a bunch of shots, and he still looked like he’d been dragged behind a chariot for a couple miles.
...

  “He’s going to sleep for about a day,” the navy doctor said with a smile. “These stings really take it out of you.”

  I glanced at the wall clock. “We’re getting on a sub in six hours.”

  “Oh, no,” said the doctor. “He can’t go anywhere. Trust me, he’s going to feel terrible when he wakes up. There’s no way he’s getting on a submarine.”

  It’s taken me a while, but I’ve learned not to pointlessly butt heads about dumb decisions that I don’t have to follow anyway. It’s been a real step of personal growth for me. So now, for instance, I didn’t even argue with the doctor.
...

  “You good to go?” I asked Gazzy, fluffing his saltwater-sticky hair with my fingers.

  He did a systems check, then nodded. “Yep. Feel like crap, but I’m okay.”

  “You look pretty tough with that face,” I said admiringly, and he gave a pleased smile.

  “Okay, troops, let’s mobilize,” I said. We were all a little punchy from lack of sleep, but I knew a couple cups of coffee would perk us right up.

  “Whoa, hold it!” said a voice. It was the nice doctor, standing in the doorway, holding Gazzy’s chart.

  “Sorry,” I said briskly. “We’ve got a sub to catch.”

  “He can’t go anywhere!” The doctor looked appalled. “People stay in bed for days from a man-of-war sting!”

  “We heal fast,” Gazzy said modestly.

  “We were hoping for a chance to study you some more,” the doc admitted.

  I sighed. “If I got a nickel every time I heard that… Okay, guys, let’s go.”

  The doctor planted his feet, crossed his arms, and blocked the door to the hallway.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t let you leave.”

  “Uh-huh.” I looked at Fang. In seconds he’d crossed the room, opened the casement window, and jumped out. Total jumped out after him. A nurse, passing by in the hallway, screamed and dropped an armful of files.

  Gazzy was next. “Thanks for everything, doc,” he said, then leaped lightly out. He dropped out of sight, but soon rose, working his wings powerfully, looking good.

- MAX: A Maximum Ride Novel, chapter 46