Love's diagnosis

Chapter 4

Mr. Johnsons results showed he was healing just fine, and he was much more energetic than this morning. I took his temp, which was excellent, before moving onto document in the folder. 

"Amen't I a star patient?" My patient joked, the wrinkles around his eyes protruding as he smiled at me. 

"Clearly, and all your scans have come back good Mr Johnson." I said, glancing up at him from My papers. 

"I'm telling you, nothing will ever take me down. Although I have to admit, the seizure did make me second guess." He said, leaning back into his bed.

"Well where did the seizure happen?"

"I was with my friend at the old golf club, and I feel down a few steps thinking it was nothing. A few minutes later, I'm on the ground shaking with foam coming out of my mouth." He said, shaking his head in disbelief over his situation. 

"I'm all better now though, clearly. Could you be a dear and ask Edward when I'm ready to go back home?" 

"You sure are Mr. Johnson, and I'll go talk to Dr. Harrington about it right now." I said, smiling his way before leaving the folder in its place outside of the hospital room. 

As I paged for Dr. Harringtons location, a thought hit me. If a small fall could've caused a small aneurysm to Mr. Johnson then surely it could've done the same to Chloe. Maybe there was a possibility that it was too small to be captured on a CT. As my pager went off, I rushed to Dr. Harrington. 

---

Once I reached Dr. Harrington, he was coming out of an OR. Lexie stood outside, patiently waiting for him, notebook in hand. She had most likely written down ideas for what Chloes condition could be. He looked at the both of us, surprised, but nevertheless smiled our way. 

"Dr.Barton, Dr. Lawson, what are you doing here?" He asked, glancing at us both. 

"Dr. Harrington, I suggest we do another CT scan to find more information." She said, her eyes watching him as if he were pray. I scoffed, gaining their attention. 

"I think Chloe has an aneurysm." I said, and now it was Lexie who scoffed. Dr. Harrington furrowed his eyebrows before answering. 

"And what would lead you to believe that?" 

"I talked to her, she plays tennis and she talked about how she was making a bunch of mistakes- mistakes that made her fall. I think a fall that's small could've given her an aneurysm just like with Mr. Johnson." I replied. I was confident, not because I wanted to scrub in or prove myself to Edward. No, I needed to prove me worthy to myself, and to prove that I could help Chloe. Edward didn't seem convinced. 

"What you're implying is a one in a million possibility." 

"But what if Chloe is one in a million? A fall like that could cause a normal sized aneurysm in an adult but in an adolescent, it might only present itself in seizures." I said, pleading. Lexie grimaced, before turning to Dr. Harrington, whose eyes were fixed on me. 

"The probability of that is- is zero to none. I think we investigate further for other diagnosis." She stated, chin held high. Edward remained silent, eyes still on me. Then he shook his head, laughing to himself. 

"Dr. Lawson, follow me." 

"Why?" 

"Because we're going to see if Chloes one in a million." 

---

Edward, Me and Lexie stood watching as Chloes brain close up. A safe medical liquid was injected into her brains blood vessels, and the tiniest of aneurysms light up on the screen. It was there. I had been right. 

"It's there. Small, but it's definitely there." Dr Harrington said, laughing to himself in disbelief. Lexies face turned pale as she stared at Chloe's Brain. I had been right, despite everyones initial thoughts. As we exited the room, Edward turned towards me, the smile on his face reaching his eyes. 

"Good job, Dr. Lawson. You'll be scrubbing in for the surgery. Dr. Barton, you'll fix pre-op." He announced, urging me to follow him. Lexie was stunned, and I - despite feeling pity over Lexie- felt victorious. 

---

The surgical room was filled with a strong metallic smell, and the mask on my face did nothing to help with it. It didn't matter though, because I'd been so focused on the surgery in front of me to care about the smell. There's a sudden rush standing there. I watched Dr. Harrington perform the surgery, his precise hands doing just as intended as he talked me through it. 

"And then we suction." 

"I see..." I said, glancing at Edward. 

"Dr. Lawson." He said, stopping his movements. 

"Yes?" 

"Would you do the honors?" He asked, looking up at me. Despite being in scrubs, he looked good. 

"What? Are you serious?" I asked and he scoffed. 

"Well you won't be performing the whole surgery, but cutting this part doesn't need any extreme skill requirement." He said, moving to the side so that I would have more space. It was common for interns to scrub in on their first shift, and to watch from the sidelines. But to take part in the surgery itself was, well just about unheard of. Maybe it should be that way, maybe it would be our secret. I moved towards Edward, looking up at him for final confirmation as I took the small scalpel. He nodded before helping. 

"Suction please." I spoke, and I could feel Dr. Harringtons eyes on me. When I finished my part, I looked to see his eyes saying all that had to be said. You did good. 

---

I finished later than intended, but when you're in the middle of a life saving surgery you can't just leave because you want beauty sleep. So I stayed, and not because I was forced but because of the joy of being in the OR. I took a moment, walking slowly the elevator to fully indulge in what I had experienced. I couldn't help but smile to myself. He actually let me take part in the surgery. I looked up to see Edward walking in to the elevator, his coat on him as he gave me a smile. The elevator doors closed. 

"Can't seem to get away from you." I joked 

"Despite your best attempts." He replied, grinning. I giggled to myself. A comfortable silence filled the room. 

"You did good in there." 

"Thank you for letting me do that. Gosh what a rush." I said, smiling like an idiot.

"You earned it. I won't ever forget my first time." He said looking over to me. 

"Does it ever go away?" 

"The feeling?" 

"Yes." 

"No, not when you truly love it. That's why I chose neuro, nothing compares to it." He spoke, and silence overtook us yet again. But it was comfortable, and the tension between us could've been cut with a knife. The elevator doors opened, and we walked out of the hospital togheter

"Did you get here by car?" He asked, and I nodded. He stood tall, handsome as ever as his coat spoke of his rich style. 

"Alright, looks like we part ways here."

"It sure does." 

"Goodbye Dr. Lawson." 

"Goodbye Dr. Harrington."