My Marine

Chapter 1

I walk though the doors and sigh in contempt knowing that this place is more my home than any place. I head towards the break room and fill my thermos to the brim with coffee. Just having a gut feeling about today.

"Good morning Ace." I hear before I am slapped on the back by my life long best friend and business partner Nathaniel King.

"What up King?" I ask as I start heading towards my office. On the way there I observe the tenants as some attempt to socialize and others sit by themselves.

"So you know that deal we closed about a month and a half ago regarding veteran care?" He asks and I give him the no shit sherlock face as I reach my office. "Well we have done really well with our older veterans that they want to test us and send us a tricky case." He states to my barely listening ears as I log onto my computer checking charts and the most recent data. But this perks my interest and I lean back in my chair and face him.

"What do you mean by tricky?" I ask knowing this is gonna be good and he's gonna go on a rant about how good of a facility we are and how we have never turned anyone down.

"Well you know we have never turned anyone down, for any reason including medical history and ability to pay." He says drawing out his sentences. I nod my head and gesture with my hand to continue. "Well ok I'm just gonna spit it out. Basically anywhere this guy has gone he's been kicked out because he has fought with the trainers and won't listen. He suffered a horrible injury that has cost him his lower right leg and in addition he still has shrapnel imbedded inside his back. Other injuries include three broken ribs, torn ligaments in his left knee and right shoulder, along with a hip displacement." He says whilst pausing to take a breath. I look at him wide eyed but I nod slowly.

"That's a lot to work on. But what's the problem." I ask already thinking about where we need to start to get this man back on his feet.

Nathen slowly shakes his head. "The problem is that everyone says this man can't be fixed."

"Well then, time to prove them wrong right?" I say and grab the binder in his hand that has the transfer paperwork. "I'm going to fix him." I say as I sighn the order and face back to my computer before he gets up to leave.

"I hope your ready Ace." He says as he walks out.

"Oh I'm ready." I say before getting up myself and grabing my binder to start my day. I look down at the first name and smile.

I wander down the halls of my facility watching the tenants as some head to breakfast, others to counseling, some to the training room, and others to the recreational room to have some fun. Until I finally reach the housing floor and walk to room nineteen. I quietly knock on the door.

"Come in." I hear. I smile and walk in to see my favorite patient.

"How are you doing John and what about you Max?" I say shaking John's hand assessing his shoulder function before petting his German Shepard service dog Max's head.

"I'm fine, and he's over fed in this place. He loves it too much here." John says with a smile before getting up. "I'm guessing it's time for my exercises?" He says as he follows me out the door.

"Yep." I say as we head to the training facility up stairs. He starts to head to the elevator and I look at him with a grin before I stop in front of the stairs. "Your going this way today." I say as he heads back over here, I watch as Max lays down waiting.

"I won't make it to the top." He says looking at the climb. I look at him my smirk disappearing to be replaced by a smile.

"John you of all people should know it's not about how high the climb is, it's about the step in front of you. We will take it one step at a time." I say as I take the first step onto the stairs. I watch as he grips the rail and places one foot in front of the other and walks up the stairs keeping a keen eyes on the next step. When we get to the top I stand there looking at John ad he comes to the realization that he did it.

"Come on we will work your shoulders for the rest of the day." I say as we make it the rest of the way to the training room. I spend the next hour working with John on his shoulders before he heads to the cafeteria where I will depart to work with my next patient.

The day goes on like this, one patient after another as the hours blur until the only thing different is how cold my coffee is getting every time I fill it up again. I set out to the break room to eat before on of my techs comes in.

"Dr.Ace?" She asks softly as she knocks on the door.

"Yes?" I ask turning to look at her.

"Your transfer is here, and well he's livid that this isn't a military hospital and is requesting to see you immediately." She states her voice trembling remembering the way he yelled at her.

"Oh good, time to welcome our new guest...." I say as I ponder for a moment. "He will be here for a while after all." I say as I get out of my lounge chair and walk towards the poor girl.

"Bring me too him. I have..... introductions to make." I say smiling slyly to myself knowing deep down this was going to be a tough one and that eventually.... I would win.