In These Arms [mxm]

Chapter 20 - Safety and paradise

A/N: Another unedited trainwreck chapter. Every time someone comments so far, I get the motivation to write. It's like a magic potion. Thanks so much for spurring me on! 

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A small Filipino nurse approached us and greeted me, handing a clipboard containing paper and a pen. "Mr. Han, I have this MRI Screening Questionnaire for you. This is required before you can go in for your scan. Also, I am sure you already know that no metals can be worn but I just wanted to remind you, just because there is a huge risk of injury if you were to go in there wearing any."

"Thanks," I said, nodding. "I did not come wearing any."

"That's good," she said. "Any further questions you can ask us at the front desk or ask your doctor when it is your turn."

I nodded as she walked away, and started flicking through the pages, answering questions that I had no idea about. It was like trying to sign a form for a stranger I had never met before. Surely the hospital would know so much more about me than I did by this point. Still, I attempted to answer whatever I could to the best of my ability.

"Are you sure you are fine with this?" Jaemin asked worriedly. "It's okay to be scared or worried."

I shrugged. "If I want to move on with my life, then I need to do things like this."

Jaemin nodded, but I was not entirely convinced that she could understand. A long time passed even after I completed and handed back the forms, but the cue appeared to move slowly. To fill the time, Jaemin told me all about the kids and what kinds of things have happened in the past couple of days.

Our idle chatter was soon interrupted by a male voice passively calling my name. We both halted to find a foreign doctor standing at the door, looking around to pick me out of the crowd. I stuck my hand up, drawing his attention to me, and stood up. Jaemin moved to stand as well, but the doctor stuck his hand up and shook his head. "My apologies," he said, "but only the patient is permitted to enter past this point."

Jaemin adjusted her sunny dress behind her and sat back down, looking at me worriedly. I offered what I hoped to be a reassuring smile and followed the dark-skin man into a tiny office. There was nothing inside here but a desk, indicating we would have to move somewhere further in order to conduct the MRI scan.

"Please, take a seat here, Mr. Han," the doctor said, gesturing to the seats in front of his desk. He sat down on his swivel chair and got himself comfortable as he took hold of his mouse and began opening up my details on his computer. "So first of all, my name is Dr. Somarathne. I'm both a neurologist and a hobbyist neuropsychologist, so brains are pretty well my specialty. This is our first meeting since you woke, but I have known you for a great deal of time. Maybe six or so years."

Somehow, the idea of people knowing me so well when I did not know them at all did not get more comfortable with time. Still, it was a reality that I had little else choice but to accept. I nodded, acknowledging what he said to me. In a way, I supposed it was at least a comfort to know that he was no stranger to my case and that I would surely be in good hands.

Dr. Somarathne checked my ID's and my answers to the MRI questionnaire, answering questions to several things that I had no idea about. I was grateful for that much. After finishing our discussions, he seemed to look between the paper and computer screen as he rapidly tapped away at his keyboard and constantly moved and clicked his mouse. When he appeared finished, he turned in his chair to face me and started to speak.

"I want to run everything past you first before we head to the MRI," he said. "Then we'll make sure you remove anything that is metallic, or potentially metallic, to minimize all risk. If there's anything you don't understand, just let me know and I'll do my best to explain it again."