Rookie 2 | Ethan Ramsey

Epilogue

Epilogue

"We're ready."
_____________________________________

Ethan sat at the familiar bench of the Serenity Garden, his blue eyes trained on the steady flow of water dripping down into the circular basin of the fountain that was situated in the centre of the garden.

Amidst the chaos of the past week, Ethan found peace in that oasis of flora and fauna. It had been a week since Edenbrook had resumed operations, and they still had a week and a half left before the hospital was going to be shut down again for when the actual extensive renovations began.

In that week alone, he had no idea how many times Leland had made him almost lose his cool. From holding constructions in close proximity with patient rooms while doctors were treating them, emphasizing on research to all of the residents in an hour long lecture, to the conversation he had back in Leland's office a week ago...

~

"Dr. Ramsey, please take a seat." Leland ushered Ethan in after escorting him to his office for the 'talk' he wanted to have regarding the diagnostics team.

"It's alright." Ethan declined politely. "I was hoping that this could be brief as I have patients to get back to."

Leland assessed the diagnostician closely, before a shrewd smile etched on his face. "Well, I intend to make it thorough, considering that I own this hospital." he said, his borderline threatening tone making Ethan raise an eyebrow at him. "So, I insist. Take a seat."

Ethan wearily took a seat on the chair at the other side of the billionaire's new office desk. Leland lowered himself into his own, resting his elbows on top of the desk before folding his hands together.

"Now Doctor, I would like to have more information about how you run your team." Leland started. "How you pick your patients, how their usual treatment plans run, how closely your team members work together..."

"Well first off, we don't 'pick' patients. They come to us when we are their last possible chance to find out what's wrong with them." Ethan replied, trying his best to mask his tone of annoyance. "Secondly, their treatment plan depends on their condition. Some stay on as long term patients, some of them are able to get better with a week or two alone."

Leland's features crinkled as if he had just listened to something he did not like. "That's it? You mean you don't get them to stay on for research trials, and experimental procedures?" he asked.

"No, we don't. There are actual researchers for that, and it is the patients' choice to volunteer. All that most of them want is just an answer to an unknown illness they are suffering from, and what they need to do to get better. We can ask them, if we think their condition is a good study, but ultimately it's up to them if they want to." Ethan replied.

"That's rather noble of you and your team Dr. Ramsey." Leland remarked. "But in a businessman's world, you end up with nothing if you rely on the contractor's consent. You have to encourage, press, force even, if you want to do any good."

Ethan's jaw clenched at the fact that Leland had not only referred his patients as 'contractors' but also the fact that he was pretty much implying that he had to use his patients' conditions as business deals for research. "That's against so many of Edenbrook's principles, and morally unethical. You can't force a patient to do something that benefits you."

"Correction, Doctor." Leland raised his palm up. "It's Bloom Edenbrook now, and with the change of reigns, a change of principles is inevitable."

"Delaying the inevitable is a game I've gotten extremely good at Mr. Bloom." Ethan said through gritted teeth. "The team will be sticking to the foundation and mission it was built on."