Edenbrook Blues

A Date with Disaster

The next day at 12:30, I had met Walter Roosevelt at Don Luigi's. "You do realize that this is much too fancy for a simple lunch date?" I asked him. "There's no such thing, Christy. Surely a sophisticated woman such as yourself must appreciate the finer things in life." "You don't know anything about me." I told him. "It's not about money for me; all I want to do is help my patients." "I can't fault you for that, but you should at least enjoy it while you can. None of us can live forever, you know." Wow, how can he be so charming one minute and so creepy the next? "Is that a threat?" I asked him. "Gosh, you take everything so seriously. Let loose once in awhile." He answered. "Oh, I know how to let loose." I told him, narrowing my eyes. "Prove it, dance on the table." "What?! No!" I exclaimed, realizing he could just as well push me off. "Fine, be that way. You're such a bore." "I don't appreciate that one bit." I told him. "I'm sorry, but this date was a mistake." I tried to get up to leave, but he blocked my path. "This date isn't over yet." He told me. I gulped, What have I gotten myself into...? Remember why I'm doing this in the first place. I've got to do this for my patients and every other patient that suffers in the world. "You're right, how inconsiderate of me to try and think about leaving." I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to slap him. "Good, I'm glad that you see things my way. Now, why don't you tell me what you call letting loose?" I remembered what Rachel told me about Bird Watching. "I like to bird watch, my favorite is the barn swallow." I replied. "Liar!!" He yelled at me. "I know that you've gotten that from Rachel!" I flinched, I didn't think he'd be that angry. "People are staring." I told him. "Let them stare, who do you think you are? You are not Rachel, you'll never be Rachel!" "Did you try to kill her because she didn't return your affections?" I asked him. I don't know why I decided to push him further. He looked like he was about to strangle me, but I suppose it's better to be in a restaurant with a few witnesses rather than some secluded cabin or something. "Ah, I see what you're trying to do, but it won't work." Walter calmed a bit before he gave me the upper hand. "Do you really think I'd admit something like that in public?" "Well, you had no problem making a scene in public. I'm sure that'll be enough to put you away for good." I smirked. "Right, well... perhaps I can tell them that you provoked me. I've been a doctor longer than you have, Rookie." "Oh, yeah? Well at least I'm a better doctor than you ever were." "You won't be for long, not when I'm through with you." He whispered, lifting my chin up to him. "You've messed with the wrong doctor, Rookie." "You haven't earned the right to call me Rookie." I told him, removing his hand. "If you try to fight me, I'll fight harder." "What happens when you die trying?" "Then at least I die fighting for something I believe in." "You're a fierce little warrior, aren't you? If it wasn't so stupid, I'd almost be impressed." "No one asked for your opinion."

"Is there a problem?" The waitress asked me. "As a matter of fact..." I started. Walter kicked me under the table, "She's just cranky because she just broke her leg." "I don't see any crutches or a cast." The waitress said. "That's because he..." I started again. "I do a good job of fixing it, so she wouldn't need any of that stuff." He finished for me. "Honestly, I just love her crankiness." "So, you're her doctor and you're going out together, that must be pretty romantic." The waitress told us. "Trust me, it's not." I replied. "Oh?" The waitress asked. "She means she was so in pain at the time that she didn't have any thoughts of romance. Once she fell in love with my healing charm, she couldn't keep away." "That is not..." I started. "There's no need to be ashamed, darling. You're strong no matter how bad your leg hurts." I dropped my head onto the table in exasperation. Clearly I'm not getting anywhere here. "Please, refrain from getting hair all over the table." The waitress told me. "Sorry, perhaps I'm a little tired." I told her. "I see..." "Please, do you mind if I talk to you for a moment?" "Sure, come with me." I followed the waitress outside. "Please, you have to help me! This guy is a nightmare." I told her. "How so?" "You don't know what he's capable of... he threatened me." "Did he?! I thought he helped fix your leg?" "Does my leg look like it was broken? He kicked me under the table."

"Well, if he's that dangerous..." "If he's that dangerous then why'd you go out with him?" Walter asked, standing by the door, and getting out a gun. The waitress's eyes widened in horror. For a moment, I knew he was gonna shoot her instead of me. "Nooo!" I exclaimed, shoving her aside as he shot. It ended up hitting my shoulder. He ran, so that any witnesses that were present wouldn't be able to catch him. "You... you just saved my life." The waitress told me. "Well, I am a doctor." I chuckled. "Ouch..." "Stay still, I'll have someone call 911." The waitress told me. "Please make sure they don't get Edenbrook... I'd hate to explain this to all of my coworkers." I told her. "That was a doctor at Mass Kenmore, if he's capable of something like that... You're not safe there..." "Yeah, you're right. I suppose I'd have to face the music sooner or later." I closed my eyes and fell asleep.