I turned to reach his left ear, grazing his jaw with the tip of my nose.
"Be careful what you wish for, Mate." I kissed him under his earlobe, my lips hot on his already scorching skin. He growled, low and deep, the sound reverberating through his...
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( Important note at the bottom)
"So, Mr. Wilbur.."
"Henry."
I sighed.
"Ok, Henry. Now take deep breaths for me please. Mouth open. Inhale. Exhale. Yes, just like this. A couple more times now please."
I shifted my stethoscope on his back, trying to auscultate his lungs. The physiological murmur was absent, loud rales taking its place. Not good. I placed the tympanum at the base of his thorax, hoping to hear something clearer. No sound at all. Definitely not promising. Henry coughed and whizzed and I removed the stethoscope from his back, placing it around my neck.
"From what you told me you suffered chest pain and had difficulty breathing for the last week and half, that's correct?"
"Yes," he managed to say without coughing.
"And that you had fever for a while before?"
He nodded. I grimaced. I didn't want to alarm him, but his situation wasn't rosy. I turned to look at the physicians next to me; Robert was looking at the patient with a frown on his face while Dr. White, the pack doctor, was already looking at me, an expectant expression on his face.
"Do you have an X-ray machine?"
He nodded. "Yes. We use it when pack members break their bones very badly."
"Good. I need an x-ray of Mr.Wilbur's chest. As soon as possible."
Dr. White nodded, taking his phone out of his pants' pocket. "I'm going to set it up for him now. I call you when it's ready."
With that, he left the room. I turned to look at Henry. He was young, probably the same age as me. He was trying to stay strong, but I could see panic and fear swirling in his eyes. Sarah was strong, she was a fighter; he wasn't. I wasn't going to let him down. I wasn't going to let them both down.
"Henry, we're going to understand what's wrong with you ok? I promise you I will do my best. I will not rest until you're healed."
He gulped, averting his eyes from me. "Thank you doctor." His voice was flebile, barely audible.
"I'll be back in a bit."
With a nod in his direction I exited the room, Robert following behind me. When the door closed with a low click behind us I leaned on the wall and lowered my eyelids. Even if I couldn't see, I was aware of Robert's inquisitive gaze on me.
"So? What do you think?"
I sighed, opening my eyes and crossing my arms on my chest. "I'm thinking pneumonia, but it's not that simple. By his symptoms I suppose it's a very grave case of bacterial pneumonia with a possible pleural spill. If we don't treat him with antibiotics soon the infection might spread until it's too late."
