Glen

Chapter 7

"It appears to be self-inflicted," a voice said from somewhere above me.

"That looks self-inflicted?! Is he a werewolf?" Demanded a voice I was sure I knew. "I understand how your staff members feel about him, but abusing an unconscious man is in direct violation of the Hippocratic Oath!"

"Dr. Cody," retorted the other voice, impatiently. "I assure you we work with the utmost professionalism and would never harm a patient no matter who it is! I am offended you would insinuate malpractice!"

I opened my eyes, and the white, glowing world swirled and swam before my eyes. The voices might as well have been in another universe. My arms and face pinched and ached, so I tried not to move. My mouth was sticky and dry; my throat ached.

"Water," I croaked, like a man lost in the desert.

"Furthermore," the other doctor continued, having not heard me. "You should have seen how he was screaming and carrying on! He was acting like he was on fire!"

"Water!" I squawked.

They still didn't hear me. Dr. Cody sounded like he was spoiling for a fight. As far as he was concerned, I had been abused for who I was and that went directly against his moral code.

"Let's say this is self-inflicted," Dr. Cody growled. "Did you think to give him a sedative before he mangled himself?!"

The other doctor balked, stammering, to find an appropriate response. Cody had won, but it didn't matter. I was too thirsty to care.

"WATER!" I barked, using up what little bit of voice I had.

Doc appeared above me a moment later, and I felt the head of my bed raising up. It whined in protest. Cody brought a paper cup to my lips and carefully poured the water into my eager mouth. I gulped greedily, an air bubble followed it down, causing my chest to ache. I coughed and groaned, but I smiled with exhausted gratitude.

He gave me a bit more and then sat the cup down. He gestured for the other doctor, an older, portly bald man, to follow him outside. I watched the window where I stood, grinning as I watched Doc pantomiming the ass-chewing I knew he was giving the other man. The pudgy doctor had his lips set in a tight line, bushy eyebrows furrowed into a grey caterpillar on his forehead, staring at Cody in defiance. He never said a word, which told me he was trying to look tough, but he knew he didn't have a dog in this race.

Eventually, the fat little doctor stormed off, shooting me a hateful side glance. Dr. Cody walked back in, running his fingers through his thinning hair. He smiled, apologetically.

"Effective immediately, a new doctor is being assigned to your care. Maybe this one will do his job. Listen, Glen, I..."

He let his words trail off and stared off into the distance. I raised an eyebrow, quizzically.

He smiled, again. "No, it's nothing. We'll talk when you're feeling better. We got another extension. I'm starting to think this is all some clever scheme of yours to fight off the powers that be."

I grinned and shrugged.

"Anyway," He grinned back. "Try and get some rest. I'll be keeping closer tabs on this hospital. You've done horrible things, but you're still a human being."

I was oddly touched by his sentiment. No matter who I was, he still looked at me like a person. It was weird and sweet, and I started to feel guilty, again. I didn't get angry this time. I was too weighed down by my dream. I didn't think I would ever tell Doc what I had seen, who I had seen. If it was too much for me, it would destroy him.