Fleetwood Mac-Part III of Fritz Series

Oh Daddy

"Mr. Buckingham the doctor will see you now" the Rolling Stone magazine I've been holding is discarded on the table beside me as I get up to follow the nurse. My Neurologist, Dr. Rathbone, is in L.A. but he gave me a referral to one of his colleagues nearby. Bright and early Monday morning after we dropped off Nova and Sara with Robin we headed to the studio for the days work. I still have sand in my hair from our trip to the beach on Saturday.

Stevie is working with Christine on vocals and John and Mick are arranging their separate parts for a few of her songs. I'm able to sneak out under the pretense of meeting a studio executive to finalize some paperwork on the rights to distribute both Buckingham Nicks LP's in Asia. In truth that meeting isn't for another week which means I'm going to have to cover that meeting with another lie...I feel awful hiding this from Stevie, but I don't want her to worry about me she has enough on her plate.

"So you've been having spasms is that right?" that is what I wrote down on my pre-appointment questionnaire. Spasms, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing etc...etc. "Yeah, and my Dizapram isn't working the way it usually does. In fact it doesn't really work at all other than to put me to sleep" and even then I wake up about three hours later twitching. "Are you using any recreational drugs?" Does pot count? I suppose it's a drug "I smoke grass every now and again but nowhere near as much as I used to".

He makes a note in my chart and I crane my neck to read it "Well, we can run a CT scan, and an EKG I'll also run an ultrasound. It shouldn't take more than an hour." He passes me a paper gown and I slip it over my arms, after a shot to relax me they run their scans nearly ripping my hair out with the EKG. I wait some more while the doctor analyses my results all the while my hands trembling in fear. At long last, carrying a folder under one arm and a cup of coffee in the other, the doctor returns eyeing me over his glasses.

"Well Mr. Buckingham I have Good news and bad news. The good news is I've located the cause of your symptoms. The bad news is that it appears to be a growth just above your left occipital orb pressing against your brain." Growth on my occipital orb? My hand subconsciously rubs my left eye socket "What-how do I get rid of it?" shifting in his seat he crosses his legs "Well, the best recourse is for us to remove it surgically..." I can't have surgery I'm in the middle of making an album.

"Can't you just give me some different meds or something? I really can't afford to be out for long enough to have surgery" sucking in a breath he taps his fingers against my chart "I can give you a more powerful sedative and anti-convulsant combination but it won't stop the problem it will just eliviate the symptoms for a while" That's good enough. I can push through the album and tour and then get the surgery. "Great do that then, I'd rather have my regular neurologist perform any surgeries I need anyway. No offense" he looks at me dryly "None taken"

The paper sack with my new medicine sits in the passenger seat of the Mustang as I head back to the studio. Its' something called Phenobarbital, and it comes in a vial I have to inject. I'm not crazy about that part I hate needles. I make it back to the studio in time for lunch and Stevie is already sitting on the couch with a plate chatting with Christine. The other blonde scowls at me as I approach, I pay her no mind. "Steph can I see you for a second?" her face creases with worry "What's the matter honey?"

I try to smile playing off her concern "Nothing, I just wanted to talk to you about something. I don't really want the whole room to know about it." her loose fitting top billows around her as she stands following me to our private little nook in the corner of our studio space. She immediately combs her fingers through my curls "Sweetheart I'm fine really don't worry" I hold her to me kissing her lips, "I called Dr. Rathbone after my spasm the other day and he called me in a new prescription for seizure medication. Just like I thought the old stuff wasn't working anymore"