"Dr. Winans keeps talking to me about letting you go home for Christmas," Jacky told her sister.
They were outside on the patio. Ever since Jacky came back she made sure Karen was outside for at least an hour every day.
It wasn't something that Karen necessarily enjoyed but she knew her sister would no longer allow her to spend all day locked up in her room.
It was much more chilly outside as winter was there. Though they wouldn't see snow until it got closer to Christmas.
"Do you think that he will?" Karen asked curiously.
Jacky shrugged, "I'm not sure. I'm your sister so I'm a biased opinion. Drew hasn't told me anything, so I can only go off what Dr. Winans has been asking me."
The younger woman didn't say anything and just let out a deep sigh. She didn't have any hope regarding leaving the facility during the holidays.
It was clear to her that Dr. Winans did not want to let her out.
The door that led to the backyard opened up and out of it stepped the young doctor.
"Hey Drew," Jacky smiled.
"Hey Jacky," He smiled back. His eyes found their way to meet his patient's. "I wanted to talk to Karen for a moment."
"And Karen doesn't wanna talk to you," The younger woman muttered.
Her response made Jacky raise her brows, looking between doctor and patient.
Drew, however, wouldn't let her attitude perturb him. He waved a hand to tell Jacky it was okay to leave.
"When y'all are done, you can come inside. I'll be in the rec room," Jacky told Karen as she got up from her seat.
The seat once occupied by her sister was now taken over by her doctor, but Karen wouldn't look in his direction.
"I spoke with Dr. Winans earlier and after some convincing, he's willing to release you for Christmas." He told her. "He's not so sure about New Years as well but for now, he's up for letting you go home on Christmas Eve and bringing you back about a day after Christmas."
The younger woman still wouldn't look in his direction or give him any reaction.
"He's decided this based on what he's observed about you as he's seen you in the past couple weeks. I've went to Dr. Newton about this and she agreed to advocate for you to stay until after New Year's day. Jacky and I alone can't get through to Dr. Winans."
That got Karen to finally look at him.
"I told you that I don't want her speaking on my behalf," She cut her eyes at him.
He gripped the sides of the table, fed up with his patient's attitude, "And I told you that the more people on your side, the better. So whether you want it or not, she's going to help you."
"As my doctor, you're doing a horrible job at listening to your patient," She said through her teeth, fuming at the man across from her.
"As my patient, you're doing a horrible job at being cooperative," He bit back, not caring to stay calm and professional. "You don't run the show around here Karen, I do."
He could see the fury taking over her body but he was prepared for anything she could throw his way.
To his surprise, his patient sat back, still filled with anger, but said nothing to him. He expected something snarky. He expected a table flip.
