Screenplay of the Heart Book Two

CHAPTER 29

During his morning rounds, Dr. Yuki Saito's next patient was Scarlett. He hadn't seen her since yesterday morning, as he'd been occupied with back-to-back surgeries. He found himself walking briskly, anticipation quickening his pace, and his medical staff struggled to keep up.

As they entered her room, Yuki's eyes quickly found Scarlett engrossed in an art magazine, a pastime she had picked up during her hospital stay. He couldn't help but secretly smile when he saw the nightlight he had given her, standing guard on the nightstand like a protective sentinel. "Good morning, Dr. Saito," Scarlett greeted warmly, acknowledging him and his staff.

Yuki approached her, his eyes briefly meeting hers as he glanced at her chart first. "Good morning, Miss Winters. How are you feeling today?" he asked, maintaining his professional composure as he prepared to conduct her routine check.

"I feel great, doctor," Scarlett responded with a faint smile, attempting to sound cheerful. However, as Yuki began the routine check—assessing her heart rate, respiratory function, and looking for any signs of distress or discomfort—he felt the heat radiating from her skin. His gaze sharpened, turning stern as he realized she might not be as well as she claimed.

Catching the subtle evasion in her demeanor, he fixed a piercing look on her. "Sorry," she added quickly, her voice faltering under his intense scrutiny. "Honestly, I feel a bit feverish."

"Nurse, please hand me a thermometer," Yuki instructed. Without missing a beat, a nurse swiftly provided him with an ear thermometer. With gentle precision, Yuki placed it in Scarlett's ear. After a moment, he pulled it out, reading the temperature aloud, "101 degrees." His sigh was heavy with concern as he began to consider the implications of her fever.

Dr. Saito's expression hardened as he turned to his team, his voice carrying an uncharacteristic edge of sternness. "Why wasn't I informed immediately when the patient developed a fever?" His gaze swept across the room, pinning each member with a sharp look that underscored his concern—a departure from his usual reserved demeanor.

Scarlett, noticing the tension, quickly intervened. "Dr. Saito, I only started feeling feverish a little while ago. The nurse checked on me earlier, and I was fine then," she explained, trying to ease the situation.

Yuki listened, his expression softening slightly towards Scarlett, but he quickly refocused on his staff. "We need to be more attentive with our patient. I want a full set of blood tests done immediately—CBC, blood cultures, CRP, and ESR. We need to determine if there's an infection or any other inflammatory process causing this fever," he ordered in a firm, authoritative tone. "And keep a close eye on her vitals every hour. Make sure she stays hydrated, and use acetaminophen to manage the fever. I don't want this escalating without our notice."

After laying out his orders, Dr. Saito turned back to Scarlett, his demeanor shifting as he addressed her more gently, yet with a stern undercurrent. "Scarlett, you need to rest now. No walking outside today," he instructed firmly. "A fever of 101 degrees is not to be taken lightly, especially with your condition. It's not safe."

Noticing the slight chill in the room, Yuki's clinical demeanor cracked momentarily as he stepped forward and carefully tucked the blanket around her. His movements were gentle, an incongruous contrast to his stern tone. "Make sure you stay in bed and rest. We can't take any chances with your health." His voice softened at the end.

Yuki's stern directive hung in the air as Scarlett hesitated, her expression wistful. "Could I maybe step out for just a few minutes? It helps clear my mind."

"No," Yuki replied instantly, his voice firm. He met her gaze directly, emphasizing the seriousness of his words. "It's dangerous for you in your current state. You cannot go outside until your condition is stable and I give the go-ahead. We need to ensure your health is not compromised further."