Rae has been discharged from the hospital. Between surgeries, Nick stopped by for the fetal DNA test that Rae had had have in order to press charges. Despite holding her hand during the procedure, Rae sensed that Nick's feelings towards her have cooled...and she knows his feelings are her fault. Totally, one hundred percent her fault. Right now, Rae is sitting on a bench in the cemetery that Grace was buried in. She is looking at the mound of dirt marking Grace's grave; still there is no marker yet but the grave is covered with flowers...perhaps, Rae thinks, in violation of Judiac burial rites. She will have to brush up on burial rites. Rae's cell phone rings. Pulling it out of her purse, she answers... R: "Nick!" N: "Just calling to see how you're feeling. You getting enough rest?" R: "Uhm. Yeah. I slept in this morning. No patients until this afternoon." N: "That's good. Sorry I had to run off like that before the test was over...surgery is endless you know." R: "Heard surgery keeps you on your toes." N: (laughing) "Keeps me running from one OR to another so yeah, you could say surgery keeps me on my toes." R: "Ha ha. One of Tangie's sayings." N: "I just stopped by to see Tangie and her social worker was there. Seems she found Tangie a new foster home." R: "That's great!" N: "Depends on your definition of great. Tangie's new foster father is Roy." R: "Schumaker?" N: "Yes." R: "Oh, great. That will throw a kink into her treatment." N: "I would say. I'd love to chat for longer but I've got to be off." R: "Another surgery?" N: "Lunch with Matt." R: "You two seem to be getting on quite well." N: "Guy things." R: "Yeah." N: "I'll see you tomorrow....good bye..." R: "Bye." She clicks off her cellphone, puts the phone in her purse. The sun is shining, although it's a bit chilly outside. Rae's expression is pensive. A tall man in a work uniform is walking up to Rae. He is obviously an employee of the cemetery for he carries a shovel over one shoulder. Caretaker: "Ma'am?" R: "Yes?" Caretaker: "You here for that little girl?" (he indicates Grace's grave) R: "Yes. Yes, I am. I was just sitting here. Is there a problem?" Caretaker: "No. It's just that we, I mean, the cemetery, was trying to track down all the people who were at her funeral." R: "Why?" Caretaker: "Someone left a silver bracelet on the coffin. We don't bury jewelry. Would you know anything about that bracelet?" Rae looks away guiltily. R: "Yeah. That's my bracelet." Caretaker: "To claim it, just go to the cemetery office. You've have to provide proof of ownership. Insurance or something like that." R: "Yeah. Thanks." Caretaker: "Not a problem." R: "Um, do you know who left those flowers on her grave?" Caretaker: "Her classmates left the flowers. We decided to leave them there." R: "Ah. Well, thanks again." Tipping his hat at Rae, the caretaker walks away humming a tune. Rae is left to sit on the bench. ...Just before leaving for lunch with Nick, Matt is seeing one last patient of the morning. Matt is on his way to one of his exam rooms with the man's medical records in his hands. He is reading the file, and frowning at something written in the record. Stopping for a moment, Matt takes an x-ray out of the file and holds it up to the light. There is an index card size, bright pink sticky note on the x-ray. Large handwriting on the x-ray says: I think you need to investigate this shadow more intensively. Still frowning, he looks around for a viewer. Spotting one, Matt walks over, places the x-ray onto the viewer and flips the light on. He peers closely at the shadow the Xray tech has indicated, then frowns some more. Looking towards the exam room with the patient, he scratches his head, then mutters, "Memo to self: don't scratch my head and get some Head and Shoulders." Flicking off the viewer's light, Matt takes the x-ray off the viewer and places it into the folder. Going over to the newly-installed sink on the opposite side of the hallway, Matt places the patient's folder on a ledge, then washes his hands at the foot-operated sink. Using his toe to activate the foot-operated hand dryer (the oversize button is installed close to the floor), Matt dries his hands under the warm air. He frowns deeply and his forehead is furrowed. Taking up the medical folder, he goes to the exam room. Knocking on the door, he says: M: "Doctor." Matt opens the door and goes in. Charles is seated in the chair. He's a tall, muscular type with sandy blonde shoulder length hair. M: "Charles Grayning, I presume?" C: "Yes." M: "I'm Doctor Slingerland." C: "And I'm a reassignment. Doc Carmichel was sent to the frontlines in Iraq." M: "Doctor Carmichael was a battlefield surgeon?" C: "Yeah. Army paid for his medical school. He was asked to go three days ago." M: "I will have to commend the HMO on correctly redirecting your medical records to me so quickly." C: "That's a first." Matt opens Charles' medical file, and removes the bright pink sticky note from the x-ray. M: (smiling) "Well. Says here you saw Doctor Carmichael last week for chest pain and he ordered an x-ray?" Taking out Charles' x-ray, Matt walks over to the x-ray viewer and places the x-ray into the viewer. He flicks on the light. C: "Yeah. Told him it was just the usual heartburn. Too many reuben sandwiches and five alarm chili downed with Coors. I go easy on the Coors." M: "The reubens don't show on you. Care to share your secret?" C: "Triathlete. That my x-ray Doc Carmichael ordered?" M: "Yes. What I'm concerned about is this shadow here. Are you taking heartburn medication by any chance?" Charles gets up from the chair and moves closer to the viewer in order to look closer at the x-ray. C: "Yeah. Zantac.
M: "How many times a day?"
C: "As often as I need it."
M: "Would you say three times a day?"
C: "More like five. Hey, this looks like a mis-shapen
dime. Maybe the film was bad."
M: "Mmm hmm. Well, that 'dime' is what has
me concerned." (he looks at Charles) " I'd like to order a mammogram for you."
C: (surprised) "A
mammogram?"
(he smiles) "Uh, doc, I hate to tell you this, but...I'm a man."
M: "That's just the name
of the procedure used to x-ray the breast tissue. Male or female breasts
don't make a bit of difference to the machine."
C: "So you're telling me
I need to have a mammogram?"
M: "I need a clearer picture
of what this shadow is. Have you felt any lumps under the nipple area while you're
showering?"
C: "Come to think of it,
yeah, I have. But I've been working out on the bowflex a lot lately,
getting into top form for the triathalon."
M: "Yes. Well, that could explain the lack of enlarged breasts. Personally, I'm thinking gynecomastia."
C: "Uh, you do remember I'm a man? That sounds like a woman's disease."
M: "Men can develop breast lumps too. Gynecomastia is a button or disk like growth under the nipple and aerola area, usually in association with enlarged breasts. It's also the most common of male breast disorders."
C: (concerned)"Is it serious? You know, like in cancerous? "
M: "Rarely. It's most likely your heartburn medication caused it. Ranitidine is known to cause gynecomastia. Especially in large amounts."
C: "Ranitidine?"
M: "Zantac to you."
C: "Ah. So when I see big boobed men, that means they have gynecomastia?"
M: "Most likely. Unless they are extremely overweight. Let's take a look, shall we? Back
up on the exam table and remove your shirt....Lay back and let's have a
look."
Charles complies.
Gently, Matt performs a breast exam on Charles.
C: "Is it going to hurt?
M: "No. Hurt here?"
C: "No. I just thought that was hard lump of muscle."
Matt finishes the exam.
M: "You can sit up and put
your shirt on."
C: "Do you think it's serious? You can be honest with me."
M: "I'll know more when the
mammogram comes back."
C: "Doc speak for: I don't
want to make any statements at this point."
M: "Perhaps. But I am thinking gynecomastia. However, I am going to
schedule you for a mammogram, and I'm also going to schedule a biopsy of
that lump."
C: "A man-ogram, then.
I'll go for a man-ogram."
M: "A man-ogram it is then.
And a biopsy. Can you come back tomorrow, say 9 am for the x-ray? I'll
schedule the biopsy for 10 am."
Matt makes a note in the
medical records.
C: "Uh, yeah, sure. Will
it get me out of work?"
M: "For a few hours."
C: "Should I take the whole
day off?"
M: "It's up to you."
Taking Charle's medical
records in his hand, Matt shows Charles out of the exam room.
C: "I do want to go sailing
out on the bay tomorrow."
M: "Just make sure you present
yourself to x-ray at 9 am tomorrow then back here in my office at 10."
C: "Gotcha."
Charles takes his leave
of Matt. A nurse walks up to Matt. He hands her the medical records.
M: "Mammogram at 9 am tomorrow
for this patient."
The nurse nods and goes
off. Stopping off to wash his hands again, Matt goes down to the front
desk where Norman is seated.
M: "Norman?"
Norman looks up.
N: "Yes?"
M: "Schedule Charles Grayning
with me at 10 am tomorrow.'
N: (grinning) "Weren't
you supposed to be at that medical lecture Doctor Howland is giving tomorrow
at 10?"
M: "Yes. Well, something
suddenly came up. Nick can go in my place."
N: (chuckling) "There's
your morning's entertainment for you. I'd bet that Nick would show Doctor
Howland a thing or two about the subject material."
M: (smiling) "He's
a surgeon, she's an ER doc. It would be interesting to see how Nick is
going to handle Doctor Howland giving a lecture on Emergency Surgical
Techniques in the ER."
N: "Might be a good idea
to have an actual surgeon in attendance at that lecture."
M: "To give her lecture a
bit of...credibility?"
N: "I'm not a doctor, but
as a potential patient, I'd sure want someone well skilled in emergency
surgical techniquess attending me if I ever needed emergency surgery
in the ER."
M: "I see your point. I'll
have a chat with Nick about attending."
N: "Right. Charles is entered
as your 10 am patient. Anything else?"
M: "Yes. I'll need a biopsy
kit as well. And, have Rae stop around to see me when she gets a moment."
N: "Okay. You off to lunch
now?"
M: (nodding) "Yep.
That new Thai restaurant over near the PFA is supposed to be good."
N: "It is. Went there last
night."
M: "Excellent. See you after
lunch."
N: "Good eating!"
Matt nods and walks out
of Presidio's offices. He stands there a moment, in the bright sunshine,
squints, then turns around and goes back into Presidio's offices. Norman
has deserted the front desk momentarily and Matt takes a quick look around.
Seeing the coast is clear,
Matt goes to the left hand upper desk drawer, opens it, reaches in and
pulls out a pair of aviator sunglasses. Putting the sunglasses on and smoothing
back his hair, Matt smiles then strides again out the doors of Presidio.
Jules and Rae are in the
kitchen. Reading an issue of "O" magazine, Jules is sitting at a table
by the window and Rae is getting coffee.
R: "What's in this month's
issue?"
Jules: "The "O" list."
R: "She has good taste. I
like her lists."
Jules: "I like this month's
Polaroid Joycam. It's affordable. Wish I could afford some of her more
expensive picks. One time she listed a shearling wrap to die for. Cost
2,500. If I didn't have these medical school bills to pay off, I'd have
bought it."
R: "I just love shearling."
Rae goes over to the table
and sits down as Jackie walks in and heads towards the coffee pot.
Jules: "Isn't this kitchen
busy?" R: "Much better. Thanks."
Jackie: "No need of my services?"
R: "Sorry. Not this time
around. Just bruises."
Jackie pours herself a
cup of coffee.
Jackie: "If I never see another
underarm, I'll be the happiest woman on the planet."
Jules: (glancing up) "You
were the one who started that program. Remember, one hundred smackeroos
and you will be rid of your underam hair forever!"
Jackie: (groaning) "Don't
remind me. There's so much money coming in, I have to schedule my breaks
on my appointment calender."
R: "David should be pleased
about your next quarterly income report."
Jackie: "Pleased? He should
be ecstatic. Thrilled. Overjoyed."
Jules: "Doing the dance of
joy?"
Jackie comes to sit at
the table with Rae and Jules.
R: "If you can imagine David
dancing. Does he even know how to have sex?"
Jules and Jackie laugh.
Jules: "With David, he'd
probably give out a performance review immediately afterwards."
Jackie: "Then tell you in
what areas your performance could improve...Say, now that you and Nick are so over, was he, you know va-voom?"
R (angrily interrupting)
"Don't start on me about Nick."
Jules: "Jackie, have you
been living in a cave?"
Jackie: (mumbling)
"I was just wondering. No need to jump on my back."
R: (cooly)"The answer should be
quite obvious."
Jules: "And you kept us all
in the dark all these years."
Rae merely shrugs her
shoulders.
Jackie: "Give us a small
hint, please?"
Jules: "Now that he's free..."
(she trails off, a pensive look on her face)
Jackie: "You thinking of
trying to bed him?"
Jules: "Not for myself."
R: "Oh? You've someone else
in mind for him?"
Jules: "Sure do. Friend of
mine."
Jackie: "Trying to play matchmaker?"
Jules: "I've said it before..."
R and Jackie: "We know. He's
a good catch."
Jackie: "Nick's not a fish,
you know."
Jules looks sharply at
Jackie, then changes the subject.
Jules: "Yeah. Here's something
you might like from this month's O list."
Jules turns the magazine
around so Jackie can see it. Rae gets interested and scoots her chair closer
to Jackie.
Jules: (standing up) "I
need to be off! Young kids await!"
R: "See you later."
Jackie: "Don't forget to
wash your hands!"
Jules: "I see Matt's lectures
are sinking in."
Jackie: "Yes. Know what else?"
Jules: "What?"
Jackie: (grinning)
"Got a lunch date with him on Monday."
Jules: "With Matt?"
R: (smiling) "You
two getting something on?"
Jackie: "It's just lunch!"
Jules starts to leave
the table.
Jules: "Mmm, hmmm. Tell us
about it on Tuesday."
With that statement, Jules
leaves the kichen.
Jackie: "Hope she's not jealous."
R: "Why? She didn't show
any interest in Matt."
Rae and Jackie turn their
attention back to "O" magazine, flipping through the pages slowly.
...As the WHO SARS representative
for UMC (a title change for him), Doctor Slingerland, posing again as Medical
Detective, has had a hectic few months. There have been conflicting reports:
CBS claims that there are no cases of SARS in San Francisco; Bay Area newspapers
report one case in the City, and that there have been a total of 22 cases
in the Bay Area suburbs.
Eleven of those cases
have been in Santa Clara, forty four miles away. Nearby Contra Costa has
seen 5 cases. Many relatives of the patients families have been a bit upset
over the hospital's decision to restrict patient visitor flow.
The decision was the hospital's,
not Matt's decision, but he has to bear the brunt of the overall displeasure.
Frequently, he hears comments like:
"If there are no cases
in the City, why the restricted hours?"
and
"There is no reason why
I can't see her newborn son."
The last type of comment
is most difficult for Matt. He and David have discussed the situation about
the maternity visiting hours. Both doctors are well aware of the trend
towards more 'homelike' setting with extended maternity visiting
hours, family rooms adjacent to the labor and delivery rooms, and allowing
non-medical personnel into the delivery room.
Matt knows that different
cultures have different childbirth practices, and with the City being such
an ecletic mix of cultures, difficulties often arise in maternity and newborn
care. UMC Hospital has done its best to accomodate the varying expectations
of the mothers-to-be.
This policy is a far cry
from the decades past, when women were subjected to strict control in the
labor and delivery rooms--and fathers were relegated to waiting rooms,
pacing back and forth, perhaps accepting a smoke from fellow dads-to-be.
Nowadays, smoking is banned, and at times it seems like everyone and their
uncle Joe must 'support' the woman in labor.
The SARS crisis has hit
hardest in China, even appearing in the remotest provinces, along the Russian
border. Hong Kong is the worst hit in the crisis. WHO has criticized China
for under reporting both the cases and the severity of the infections.
Matt has read that an
elderly Chinese woman travelled back to China for a visit. Upon her return
in early February, she came down with a respiratory illness and she was
the first suspected SARS case in the states (she survived).
The woman's family has
been ostracized by some of their neighbors, and some of the kids' friends
are no longer allowed to play with them. Upon reading about the family's
situation in the Sunday edition of the Washington Post, Matt was shocked.
Recently in the City,
Chinese stores along Noriega street have seen a plummet in business, by
some estimates, stores have seen a fifty percent drop in business as a
result of rumors, and one woman shopkeeper has had to endure false rumors
that she has SARS. About the only business to boom is the sale of facemasks.
Amongst other subjects,
Matt and David are in the middle of a discussion about the maternity visiting
hours. They are in Matt's office.
D: "I, for one, have to agree
with Jules."
M: "Why?"
D: "The reduced visiting
hours and the restriction on non-medical personnel in the delivery room
have reduced hospital acquired infections in newborns by eleven percent."
M: "That is a considerable
reduction in HAI's. But can't we lighten up a bit?"
D: "That would be a board
decision. It was the board who decided on the new restrictions,
not me. I'm only the enforcer."
M: "And you delegated that
role to me."
D: "Someone has to work the
front lines. You seemed like a logical choice."
M: "My WHO experience?"
D: "Not as much as your organizational
skills. But yes, the Kenya vax program did play into our decision."
M: "Our decision? I thought
the board decided on the appointment."
D: "They did. After I
pointed out you'd worked with WHO in the past. You were a natural choice."
M: "I see. We've gotten off
the subject of allowing more maternity visitors. Was that deliberate on
your part?"
D: (looking away; his
action tells Matt the answer) "Yes." (he looks back at Matt) "I
am well aware of the many cultures the hospital serves. And I am also aware
of different childbirth practices. But I have a hospital to run, and part
of the hospital's duty is to try and prevent infections."
M: "You sound like Nick."
D: "It's an excellent explanation."
M: "What about when SARS
abates? WHO has already discovered SARS is a relative of the common cold
and several labs worldwide are working on a faster test. And a cure."
D: "When the crisis abates,
we'll re-evaluate our position."
M: "Re-evaluate?"
D: "You do know that in Toronto
five hundred church parishoners were quarantined by the government last
week."
M: "I'd heard that on the
news."
D: "And with the rumors going
around that the Chinese shops are spreading SARS..."
Matt interrupts hotly.
M: "That rumor is not true!"
D: "I know the rumor isn't
true. The Bay area news media, of course, are hyping the rumor up."
M: "Are they making it clear
that the rumor going around about Noriega street is just that--a rumor?"
D: "They reported that there
was a rumor going around."
M: "And that is exactly what
it is: a rumor."
D: "I know. What I don't
want is a negligence lawsuit on our hands. New parents can be quite litigious.
Should someone's newborn contract SARS, or even be suspected of having
SARS, the lawsuits will fly fast and heavy. Harriet's patients are quite
educated."
M: "I understand. But you
do know that it's difficult being on the front lines. Straining, even."
D: "I know you tend to get
patients like Mrs Winters."
M: "Ah. Yes. Well, there's
some things with her that could be causing her behavior."
D: "When you discharged her
this morning, she left a comment card about you."
M: "She did?"
D: "Quite complimentary."
M: "Her idea of a compliment
is a vituperative verbal sniper attack."
David reaches into his
pocket and pulls out an oversize card. He hands it to Matt who reads it
aloud.
M: "As for the professionalism
and competence of your Doctor Slingerland, I commend you. Although I did
not approve of his phoning those shrink people on me, I understand his
reason for doing so. When my father was in the hospital with NHL and behaved
the same way, I begged the doctors to phone for a therapist. Doctor Slingerland
provided the best of care. You would do well to hire more physicians like
him. Sincerely, Mrs Gloria Winters."
Matt leans back in his
chair, holding the comment card in his hand. He puts the comment card down
on his desk.
D: "That is perhaps the most
loquacious comment we've ever received."
M: "I'm touched."
D: "Mrs Winters aside, can
you see my point that the maternity visitor restrictions need to remain
in place until the SARS crisis is over?"
M: (resigned) "I can
understand. I was hoping that you'd be able to take some of the strain
off of me by easing up on the visiting restrictions."
D: "Sorry. Not a chance.
Not at this moment." (David stands up). "If there's anything else
I can do, feel free to stop by. You know where I'm at."
M: (drily) "I'll be
sure to do that. Thanks anyways, David."
D: "Wish it wasn't like this."
M: "I wish that as well."
David leaves Matt's office.
Matt drums his fingers on his desk for a moment, then picks up the comment
card again. Looking at the card again, he purses his lips a moment and
his brow creases before he comments to himself:
M: "Maybe there is something
that I can do. This is a job for Jackie."
Putting Mrs Winters comment
card in his pocket, Matt stands up and leaves his office . A few minutes
later, he comes across Harriet in the hallway.
M: "Harriet! Good afternoon!"
H: "You're a bit cheery this
afternoon."
M: "Sun and lunch and all.
It's good for me. I've been in the states since I was eighteen and I still
haven't gotten used to all the sun here in California."
H: "You should live in the
southern part of the state. More sun there."
M: "I'd never come in to
work from sailing the Pacific."
Harriet chuckles.
H: "I'd have to agree I'd
probably never come in to work either."
M: "Have you seen Jackie
around?"
H: "If it's a weekday, she's
doing underarms."
M: "I take it her program's
been a runaway success?"
H: "That's an understatement."
M: "I'll catch her in her
office, then."
H: "Good luck with that!
She's so busy, she barely has time between patients."
M: (raising his eyebrows)
"Then
I'll make it an official visit regarding SARS control and handwashing."
H: "Hope she doesn't take
it the wrong way."
M: "She'd better not. Have
a good afternoon!"
H: "You, too!"
Matt wanders down the
sparsely populated hallway as Harriet watches him.
H: "Without the visitors,
UMC seems a bit...deserted."
Harriet turns and goes
into the bathroom--her destination.
...Meanwhile, Rae is sitting
in her office. On his way to finding Jackie, Matt decided to stop off in
Rae's office. Matt is sitting in the chair opposite her. On her desk, Rae
has a medical file open in front of her; it's not Charles Grayning's.
R: "You're thinking gynecomastia?"
M: "Yes. Zantac five times a day. I scheduled a man-ogram for tomorrow morning at 9."
R: (chuckling) "Man-ogram?"
Matt smiles.
M: "That's his name for it.
He didn't want to go in for a mammogram but he'd go and get a man-ogram
performed."
R: "Did you tell him your other
suspicions?"
M: "Hid them in doc-speak."
R: "In other words, you wouldn't
say yes and you wouldn't say no."
M: "That's about it. I did tell him about gynecomastia but I want to be on the safe side."
R: "How did he take that word?."
M: "He reminded me that he was a man."
R: (smiling) "Did you schedule a biopsy?"
M: "Ten am."
R: "I'll be there."
M: "Thanks."
Norman knocks in the door.
R: "Entre-vous!"
Norman opens the door.
N: "Mrs Winters is here to
see you."
M: "That's my cue to leave."
R: "Would you show her in,
please?"
Matt stands up.
M: "I am going to skedaddle.
Mrs Winters is someone I do not wish to run into today. Even if she did
give me a complimentary comment card."
R: "Don't you hate those
cards? It's like open season on doctors."
Matt goes towards Rae's
office door. He reaches the door and pauses a moment, looking back at Rae.
M: "I think the comment cards
are a wonderful system for feedback. Sometimes doctors can be insensitive.
Especially with pelvic exams and bare legs."
R: "Ah. Didn't think about
that. I don't remember too much about that except that it felt like she
was sliding an ice cube in there. And my legs were cold."
M: "Each leg should be covered
from the feet to the mid-thigh area with a third sheet forming a drape
from the hips to over the knees. You should use the comment card system
to tell both Doctor Howland and the adminstration about your unacceptable
experience."
R: "Is that how you perform
pelvics?"
M: "When I absolutely have
to, yes. I don't need to see any more skin than is necessary and my draping
system is much less embarassing to my female patients."
R: "But I've been discharged
already!"
M: "Claim the comment card
got lost by one of the nurses. Again, I'm running off before I run into
Mrs Winters."
R: "Interesting choice of
words."
M: "She's an interesting
type of woman. Just not my type. See you tomorrow at 10 am!"
R: "I'll be there."
Glancing both ways before
he leaves Rae's office, Matt sees that Mrs Winters is following Norman.
He quickly leaves the office in the opposite direction. He's off to find
Jackie--hopefully between patients so he doesn't have to wait for her.
A few moments later, Norman
shows up at Rae's door with Mrs Winters in tow.
N: "Doctor Rae Brennan."
Gloria: "Good to see you
again, Doctor Brennan."
N: "You two know each other?"
Gloria: "She treated my father."
N: "Ah. Well, then. I'll
let you two ladies get re-acquainted."
Norman takes his leave
of the two women.
R: "Please, Mrs Winters,
sit down."
Gloria: "Don't mind if I
do. I'm a bit tired."
Gloria comes into the
office and takes a seat.
R: "That's expected. How's
your grandson?"
Gloria smiles.
G: "He went home today. And
the strangest thing happened."
R: "What?"
G: "When he got home with
Debbie and her friends started dropping by like they were growing out of
the woodwork, I did the strangest thing."
R: "And that was?"
G: "I asked each of them
to stay only a few minutes. To help prevent infection, I said. And I made
Debbie's visitors wash their hands before seeing my grandson."
R: "He is a newborn. Not
much immune system. Did Debbie name him?"
G: "Abraham."
R: "Nice choice."
G: "I think the name is wonderful.
Now, as far as my being able to see Abraham in kindergarten, what are my
chances?"
R: "They look pretty good."
G: "Truly?"
R: "Yep. Your NHL is stage
two and that's always a good sign. Plus, there are some new drugs I want
to try this time around that I didn't get to try with your father."
G: "Did you know we buried
him at sea?"
R: "No."
G: "We took the ashes to
Hawaii and had a memorial service at sea."
R: "What a nice thought.
Perhaps that's what I should do."
G: "Not me. I want a memorial
marker. Large white marble marker."
R: "To remember you by?"
Gloria chuckles.
G: "I suppose my therapist
would call me egotistical. But I think I should have some mark of my being
in this world, aside from my kids."
R: "Truthfully, although
I work in tandem with death on a daily basis, I really haven't thought
about my own funeral."
G: "I rather admire the ancient
Egyptian burial techniques. I am planning on having a bit of jewerly buried
with me."
R: "Wedding ring?"
G: "No. My most special jewelry:
the diamond necklace I bought myself after my husband left me."
R: (brightly) "Ah.
Now that is an idea."
G: "To be buried in a diamond
necklace is quite the way to exit the world."
R: "I meant buying a diamond
necklace after your husband left. I'm on the way to divorce court."
G: "Purchase a diamond necklace,
dear. You'll feel much better."
R: "I take it you're feeling
much better?"
G: "Yes. I suppose it's not
the medication I've been given by the therapist. That hasn't had enough
time to work."
R: "It could be that. But
it's more likely you got a lot off your chest when you admitted to your
family about your cancer."
G: "I suppose you're right.
Now, when do I start this regimen?"
R: "Right away."
Rae goes into a discussion
of treatments with Gloria.
...Meanwhile, Letty walks
into Tom's office with a colored manila folder in her hand...
L: (waving the folder
at Tom) "You know what this is?"
T: "Let me guess. Pregnancy
results."
L: (startled) "Not
mine."
T: "Rae's. Seems like a soon
to be former ER nurse spread the word quite handily. Doctor Howland's up
in arms about the leak."
L: "Rae's up in arms about
the leak. Anyways, do you know what's in this folder?"
In response, Tom stands
up, goes to Letty, puts his arms around her and kisses her. As he kisses
her, he bends her back towards the floor.
Tom finishes the kiss
and stands Letty on her two feet.
L: "Well. That's one part
of what's in this folder!"
T: "What's the rest?"
L: (slyly) "Nighttime."
T: "Honeymoon information?"
L: "Second honeymoon information
to you!"
T: "All right? Where are
the potential places?"
Disentangling herself
from Tom, Letty goes to sit on the small leather couch in Tom's office.
L: "This couch is new." (she
sits down) "Ohhh, this is a nice couch. How much it run you?"
T: "Got it cheap off a film
production company. Movie folded. Six hundred."
L: "Damn economy. Anyways,
this is where I have planned: A GAP tour of Peru and Chile."
T: "Gap? Like the blue jeans?"
L: "It's an adventure program.
Really it means that you get a small guided tour group roughing it around
South America. "
T: "An adventure tour. What
else?"
L: "A freighter cruise."
T: "Like Nick's parents?"
L: "Yep. Sun and sea and
lots of rest and absolutely no cell phones."
T: "That one is high on the
list, then. What else?"
L: "Antarctica."
T: "You're kidding me."
L: "Nope. I've also got a
train trip across Russia on the list."
T: "Remember, we get two
weeks vacation."
L: "One day to fly to Beijing.
Then six days on the Orient Express to Moscow. Two days in Moscow. A quick
stop in London, then back here to the City by the Bay."
T: "A trip on the Orient
Express? I think I'd like that. But not now."
L: "Why not?"
T: (looking at Letty with
surprise) "SARS. In the Guangdong province. Even along the Russian
border."
L: "If I have my geography
correct, Beijing is in the northern part of the country. And Hong Kong
reports the largest number of SARS cases."
T: "There are voluntary travel
restrictions in effect to China and other parts of Asia."
L: (frowning then sighing)
"Perhaps next year."
T: "So that leaves Antarctica,
a South American adventure trip and a freighter cruise."
Tom's pagers bleeps. He
takes it off his belt and looks at the pager.
T: "Time to go."
L: "Almost time for me to
do my rounds. I've got a bypass patient in psych for severe depression."
Letty stands up.
T: "Isn't depression common
after bypass surgery?"
Letty nods.
L: "Sure is. Bypass surgery
often messes up the serotonin levels in the brain."
T: "I hope I don't have to
use your services."
L: "You won't. Not while
I'm around."
Tom hugs Letty and she
reaches up and kisses him.
L: "Make sure you scrub well."
T: "Aye, aye, captain!"
Tom begins to walk away.
L: "Tom?"
Tom turns around.
T: "Yeah?"
L: "Might want to stop off
at Doctor Howland's lecture tomorow morning at 10 am."
T: "Oh?"
L: "She's giving a lecture
on Emergency Surgical Techniques in the ER. Matt was supposed to
attend but Nick's going in his place."
T: (surprised) "I
can see Nick going but Matt's an internist. He works in an office not in
surgery."
L: "Matt's keeping his skills
sharp. Should be interesting seeing Nick and Terry lock horns on surgical
techniques."
Tom laughs her remark.
T: "Should be a real interesting
morning. Thanks for the info. With that kind of advertising, I might attend."
L: "Just doing my duty as
your wife."
T: "Appreciate it."
L: "You get going now!"
T: "Aye, captain!"
Saluting, Tom turns and walks
away to respond to his page.
L: (watching Tom's retreating
back) "Sounds like he's in for the freighter cruise. The one that passes
by Tahiti looks good!"
Chuckling, Letty walks
in the opposite direction of Tom.
...Thirty minutes later
and back at Rae's office, a detective is sitting opposite Rae (Lina Rodriguez)
and Rae is obviously frustrated at the line of questioning as her expression
is one of exasperation.
On a small table near
Lina lies an older issue of "O" magazine. A teaser on the cover advertises,
"Dating after Divorce."
L: "You said you invited
Robert into your house. For a drink."
R: "Yes. He was upset."
L: "And you knew him?"
R: "Most everyone who works
here knows who Robert Winningham is."
L "I don't. Just who is Robert
Winningham?"
R: "He's Dean Whittier's
husband."
L: "And Dean Whittier is...?"
R: "The Dean of the Business
School."
L "And you know Dean Whittier?"
R: "Yes."
L: "So you invited a married
man into your home for a drink because he was upset."
R: "I know the man! And I
did not intend to have sex with Robert Winningham."
L: "You do know he's claiming
the sex was consensual?"
R: "Only after the DNA results
showed the baby is his."
L: "Correction. He never
made a statement until the DNA results came in. And the statement
indicates Robert said he'd already heard the baby was his."
Rae is shocked.
R: "What?"
L: "Robert was...unavailable
for questioning until yesterday."
R: (sputtering) "Was
he even questioned until yesterday?"
L: (looks at her notes)
"An
attempt was made to question him. After you were interviewed in your hospital
room, the officers left to interview Robert. They tried eleven more times to interview him up until yesterday."
R: "Don't tell me he was
unavailable when the officers arrived at his office that day?"
L: (looking at her notes)
"Correct."
R: "And he knew about the
dna results when he finally was questioned?
L: "Good recap. You should
have my job."
R: (drily) "Seems
like we've got an efficient grapevine here."
L: (smiling) "Or a
mole."
R: "Mole?"
L: "Inside snitch."
R: "At the police station?"
L: "At UMC."
R: (sneering) "Bet
it's Brenda."
L: "Who's Brenda?"
R: "Some chatty ER--a soon
to be former--nurse. Doctor Howland is having her removed for violation
of the HIPAA."
L: "The Hippa?"
R: "Oh. Forgot. Medical lingo.
I forgot what the acronym means, but it pertains to patient privacy. As
of April, the new patient privacy laws came into effect."
L: "And what does HIPAA do?"
R: "Hospitals can no longer
give out information on a patient's condition to people other than the
patient's immediate household. That also means media won't be able to phone
the hospital to get information on a patient's condition if that person's
been in an accident."
L: "So no more media updates
like: the accident victim is listed in serious condition at UMC?"
R: "Right. And in case you
are in an HMO, employers will not be able to gain access to medical information
because insurers are prevented from telling employers about their employees
medical history."
L: "Long winded explanation."
R: "All government regulations
are long winded."
L: "Back to Brenda. Are you
saying she told the media or your employer what happened?"
R: "No. Brenda told everyone
in the ER about what happened to me. That's somewhat like telling my employer."
L: "And she was Doctor Howland's
employee?"
R: "Right. Doctor Terry Howland."
Lina takes down the notes
of the last several minutes. Rae observes her.
R: "Do you always wait to
take notes until after something has been discussed?"
L: "Interrupts the flow of
questions. I like chunky questioning. Let's see, the new hippa laws came
into effect in April. Hospitals can't give out information on a patient's
condition..."
R: "Yeah. All right. Gotcha.
Any more questions?"
L: "Just one."
R: "Shoot."
L: "Why did you allow Robert
to add something to a drink which turned it bright blue?"
R: "Well...it was
a pretty drink."
L: "Pretty? Do you always
have drinks that are pretty?"
R: "Thought it was just one
question."
L: "It was until you answered."
R: (sighing) "Robert
said electric blue starlights were a new drink popular down at the wharf."
L: "Did you watch him mix
the drink?"
R: "He was standing at our
wet bar. There is a raised counter so while I was watching him, I didn't
see how he mixed the drinks."
Lina glances at "O" magazine.
L: "And you are a middle
aged, about to be divorced woman who wanted something new? Like dating
after divorce?"
R: (glancing at "O" magazine)
"Not like that. I mean, not like in the magazine. It's difficult
being newly single. Sean and I were a couple so long, I forgot I had an
identity outside of the marriage."
L: "You were playing a role
in your marriage?"
R: "Well, I suppose. Sean
and I each had our roles: he the traveling journalist and I was the oncologist
saving lives."
L: "Hmmm. Rumor has it you
were having an affair with one of the physicians here."
R: "I see the grapevine is
truly efficient."
L: "That affair is not going
to look good at the trial."
R: "I know. Is there any
way we can avoid going to trial? I don't want Nick and I and Robert splashed
all over the papers. That could hurt my already painful divorce proceedings."
L: "Only if Robert pleads
guilty or no contest. But we've got some other charges we may be able to
get him on."
R: "What are they?"
L: "Trafficking in an illegal
substance. That is an if, mind you. Rohypnol is found outside the country
and there's no evidence he was out of the country."
R: "He probably got the rohypnol
in Mexico."
L: (raising her eyebrows)
"And
how would you know that?"
R: "Two ways. One, I'm an
oncologist. Two, any internet search on rohypnol will give you the information
you need."
L: "I'll check that out.
The second part."
R: "What else?"
L: "The old standby: possession
of an illegal substance."
R: "But I can't prove there
was rohypnol in my drink. Or even that I ingested the drug. It's been two
months."
L: "Right. So we're down
to a few things: your word against his. And the other case."
R: "Is that case stronger?"
L: "Somewhat."
R: "The paper reported she
was underage."
L: "She's not. That's all
my questions for now. But I'll need you to be available in case I have
more."
R: "How many questions can
you have?"
L: "In these types of cases,
a lot of questions. Sometimes the questions need to be asked more than
once. Have you retained an attorney?"
R: "Why would I need one?"
L: "If you're going to trial,
you'll need one. The state won't assign a lawyer for you."
R: "So I need a lawyer."
She sighs again and brushes a wisp of hair from her face.
Lina shuts her notebook
and stands up.
L: "Yep. I'll be back in
touch. I see you're rather popular today."
Lina indicates the window
of Rae's office. Nick is standing there.
L: "That him? Nick?"
R: "Yeah."
L: "Excellent taste."
R: "Yeah. How did you know
his name?"
L: "You told me. I chose
not to emphasize your slip."
R: "Oh. A slip of the tongue?"
L: "Yep. Might want to watch
that in the trial."
R: "I'll keep that thought
in mind."
Lina leaves Rae's office,
nodding to Nick on her way out. Nick comes into Rae's office and shuts
the door.
N: "So? How'd it go?"
He goes over to the couch
and sits down.
R: "Usual. Lots of questions.
It's like they don't believe me."
N: "What's not to believe?"
R: "It seems to be a pervasive
belief in American society: the woman invited the rape."
N: "You invited him in for
a drink. He adulterated that drink."
R: "No need to remind me.
Know what she asked me?"
N: "What?"
R: "She asked me if I always
have 'pretty' drinks. How was I supposed to know he adulterated the vodka?"
N: "You're not. But there
is something you can do in the future."
R: "What is that?"
N: "You could purchase drink
safe coasters."
R: "Coasters? How could they
protect me?"
N: "By telling you if your
drink has been adulterated with a date rape drug. Read about them in an
inventors magazine."
R: "Thinking of inventing
something?"
N: "I was waiting for Doctor
Howland to finish with you so I could see you that day."
R: "Ah. Sorry. What about
these coasters?"
N: "You can smear a bit of
your drink on them and if the coaster changes color you know the drink
has been adulterated."
R: "And that would work with
rohypnol?"
N: "Yep. They were invented
to detect date rape drugs in drinks. "
R: (scratching an itch
on her arm) "Where can I get the coasters?"
N: "I'll find out for you."
R: "I'd like that."
A pager goes off. Rae
glances at the pager on her desk. Nick has started to reach for his pager
when Rae says:
R: "Mine. Tangie again. Want
to come with me? She sure likes you."
Nick stands up.
N: "Sure. She likes to play
poker and I need to win back some vanilla cokes."
R: "No. She likes you.
Meaning: she has a crush on you."
N: "I'm too old for her."
The two docs leave Rae's
office and begin walking down the hallway.
R: "It's a schoolgirl crush.
You're her hero."
N: "Hero? She turned me into
an Enrique song?"
R: (chuckling) "No.
Along with her physique, she's developed crushes on certain doctors."
N: "You used the plural."
R: "Tangie's other crush
is Matt." Rae imitates a British accent. "Dashing accent, Tangie
says. And quite the handsome fellow. When can I meet him?"
N: "Seems I'm not the only
popular doc around here."
R: "Would appear so....(calling
down the hallway)...Hey! Hold that elevator!"
Nick and Rae run to catch
the elevator.
...Meanwhile, Matt has
cornered Jackie. She has just finished up with a patient and the next patient
is waiting. The two docs are standing near a sink.
M: "Don't forget to wash
your hands."
J: "Yes, daddy."
M: "Seriously, underarm bacteria
can spread germs."
J: "I am gloved, you know."
M: "Anyways. I came by to
ask you if you remembered the name of that reporter you worked with some
time ago. The arthritis case?"
J: "You need some publicity?"
M: "Something like that."
J: "I think I can dredge
up the information. Can you stop by later on?"
M: "Sure. Now make sure you
scrub your hands well."
J: "You just reminded me
of that a bit earlier. You stressed?"
M: (running a hand through
his hair) "A bit. Earlier I was feeling pretty good."
J: "You ate lunch outside
the offices?"
M: "Yes."
J: "That always makes me
feel good as well.
Jackie strips off her
gloves and scrubs her hands in front of Matt.
J: "Satisfied?"
M: "Infinitely. Mind you,
lunch on Monday. The new Thai restaurant down by the PFA all right?"
J: "Sure!"
M: "Thanks."
J: "No problem. Hey, what's
your big idea?"
M: "You'll see."
J: "A secret?"
M: "I need David's approval.
And no playing girl detective to find out."
J: (smiling) "But
that was so fun!"
M: "You identified the wrong
person."
J: "He was cleared."
M: "Not in the court of public
opinion around here. There's still some suspicion about him."
J: "Why?"
M: "Because once you tag
someone for doing a crime, you tend to think a bit less of that person.
And when things go missing again, that someone's name crops up first thing."
J: (excitedly) "Something's
gone missing?"
M: "Yes. Tom's wallet."
J: "And the maintenance man
is the suspect?"
M: "His was the first name
that cropped up. Fortunately for him, he had an alibi: he was in Spanish
class at the time of the wallet's disappearance."
J: "Tom knows what time his
wallet disappeared?"
M: "He knows the approximate
time his wallet went MIA. He and Letty were discussing their upcoming vacation
plans and he knows he had his wallet at that time. But when he came out
of surgery a few hours later, his wallet was gone."
J: "It would appear..."
M: (sternly) "Now
no girl detective stuff!"
J: (shrugging her shoulders)
"Why not? It's a perfect case. Someone in the surgical suite lifted
Tom's wallet."
M: (folding his arms on
his chest) "That's not it at all."
J: "How do you know?"
M: "Tom left his wallet in
the bathroom stall."
J: "But you said his wallet
was stolen."
M: "I never said Tom's wallet
was stolen. You asked if something was missing. I merely
confirmed a wallet was missing. Tom's wallet. I never said his wallet was
stolen."
J: "But you said that there
was a suspect!"
M: "You asked if the
maintenance man was--and I quote you--the suspect. I told you his name
cropped up in connection with the wallet's disappearance. Jackie, this
is the problem with you playing girl detective. You interpret the facts
wrong and you can implicate an innocent person."
J: (pouting) "So you're
telling me to stick with laser hair removal?"
M: "Yes."
J: "Then why did you tell
me about the missing wallet?"
M: "Because you were going
to hear about the rumor via our hyper-efficient grapevine. Misinformation
flies like the speed of sound and the truth is often spread slower than
molasses."
J: "Oh."
M: "Now, you've got a patient,
and I've got a meeting."
J: "Right then. I'll not
play girl detective."
M: "Good. Have a good afternoon
and I'll stop by later for the reporter's information."
Matt goes off to his meeting
while Jackie stares after him.
...Rae has finished her
appointment with Tangie--she needed her lab results read to her. Nick and
Rae are walking outside in the sunshine. Rae is heading towards her car--she's
off early this afternoon. Nick is escorting her to her car.
R: "See what I mean? Tangie
has the biggest crush on you."
N: "You said she also has
the biggest crush on Matt."
R: "She can't decide. After
all, she's only twelve."
N: "So she's told me."
R: "She's told everyone."
N: "I noticed. Tangie's like
another Jules."
R: "Now that's something
we don't need duplicated. I enjoy Jules, but one of each personality is
enough for me."
N: "Jules can be quite charming.
Matt had a crush on her, you know."
R: "I know. Say, I heard
Jules set you up on a date with one of her friends."
Rae fumbles in her purse
for her car keys.
N: (surprised) "She
did? First I've heard of it."
R: "Jules didn't tell you
she wants to set you up on a date?"
N: "Nope."
R: (smiling) "Oops.
Spilled the beans."
The two docs have reached
Rae's car. Rae shuts off the car's alarm, unlocks the door and gets in.
Rolling the window down, Rae sticks her head out the window.
R: "You going to accept the
date?"
N: "Depends."
R: "On what?"
N: "Dunno."
R: "Mister Mysterious these
days, aren't you?"
N: "Maybe. You going to tell
Sean about Robert?"
R: "No!"
N: "Don't you think he might
want to know?"
R: "Sean's lawyer has petitioned
me for more than fifty percent of the marital assets because of our affair.
If word gets back to him that I invited another male friend into my home,
it could hurt the settlement even more."
N: "How so? You were living
in the home alone after you signed separation papers."
R: "The media will drag my
name, Robert's name...and your name through the mud."
N: "My name?"
R: "In a rape trial, a woman's
sexual history is publicly examined in exquisite detail."
N: "Now that fact I didn't
know."
R: "Yeah, well, welcome to
America. Sorry it's such a crappy welcome."
N: "I suppose I should retain
a lawyer."
R: "Why?"
N: "In case I have to testify."
R: "You don't need to retain
a lawyer. Although the defense may call you to the stand as a hostile witness."
N: "I think I'll retain one
in any event."
R: "Whatever...I need to
be off. See you tomorrow."
Nick steps back as Rae
starts her car.
N: "See you tomorrow."
R: "Oh! Could you tell Matt
that Mrs Winters is quite improved in her attitude over her last visit
with him?"
N: "Sure!"
Nick waves at Rae as she
pulls out of her parking space. Nick stands there a moment, then turns
back towards Presidio's offices.
...some minutes later,
Nick is sitting in David's office. David is on the phone and is turned
towards the window. Like the majority of decent offices at UMC, David's
office looks over an expanse of green.
Ending his phone conversation,
David turns his swivel chair around to find Nick sitting in the chair placed
in front of David's desk. David is startled.
D: "Doctor Kokoris! What
brings you by?"
David replaces the phone
in its cradle.
N: "Rae."
D: "And?"
N: "Should I retain a lawyer?"
D: "What for?"
N: "I may be called to testify."
D: "You wouldn't need a lawyer
if you're going to testify. Her lawyer will tell you what you need to know."
N: "And If I'm called for
the defense?"
D: "Still, her lawyer will
go over that with you. You could hire your own attorney to look after you,
but that's really unncessary."
N: "That I might do."
D: "Are you worried the INS
will deport you?"
N: "Yes."
D: "You have not committed
a crime."
N: "I know."
D: "You worried about the
media blitz as well?"
N: "Kind of."
D: "On that I can tell you
the less you say, the better it will be for you. The media will examine
Rae's, uh, history."
N: "Which includes me." (he
pauses a moment) "Will they go into Doctors without Borders?"
D: "Possibly. If they can
get a hold of it. Highly unlikely, though. 'They' being the defense. You
won't lose your job with DWB over this."
N: "Now that I already know."
D: "It would be up to you
if you want to retain a lawyer to look after your own interests with regards
to Rae's case."
N: "I think I will retain
a lawyer."
D: "Your choice...Matt! Please
come in and have a seat."
Nick looks over his shoulder
at the doorway. Matt comes into the office.
N: "Hello again."
M: "Thanks for the lunch,
Nick. Superb choice."
Matt sits down in the
other chair.
N: "You're welcome."
Nick starts to stand up.
N: "I was just leaving."
M: "No, Nick. Stay. I came
to ask you, David, if I could set up a press conference."
Interested in Matt's press
conference, Nick sits back down.
D: "Press conference?"
M: "About the rumor that
SARS is rampant on Noriega Street. I want to emphasize that the rumors
are just rumors."
N: "I heard those rumors
on the news this weekend. I think it was CBS that ran them on the overnight
feed."
D: (stroking his chin)
"And that would help?"
M: "I am the WHO SARS Representative
and work directly with WHO on this matter."
N: "I thought you were the
SARS Control Manager."
M: "They changed my title.
That's administration for you."
Nick smiles.
D: "You think a press conference
would lessen the rumors about Noriega Street?"
M: "Yes. And the more physicians
there, the better."
N: "There?"
M: "On Noriega Street. I
want to do a press conference from Noriega Street, with as many physicians
as I can get down there, snacking on Chinese food while strolling around
in the background."
D: (he holds his hand
up) "Whoa! Hold on there! We don't want to give the impression that
every physician is taking an extended afternoon snack break."
N: "I think Matt's right.
It would do a lot of good for the public to see that if physicians consider
the Noriega Street eateries safe, then the public should consider it safe
to shop and eat there as well."
D: (glancing at Nick)
"Trying to help the shopkeepers?"
M: "I'm trying to stem the
tide of rumors gone wild. Contrary to some news reports, there are no SARS
cases reported in the City. I've already got Letty and Tom rounded up,
along with my med student class."
D: "Well, it couldn't hurt
to get a few docs rounded up. All right. Go ahead with the press conference.
When do you plan on having the conference?"
M: "As soon as I can get
it arranged. Nick, you in?"
N: "You bet!"
Matt smiles. He and Nick
stand up to leave.
M: "Thanks, David. I owe
you one."
Nick and Matt take their
leave of David. Once in the hallway, they run into Harriet.
H: "Nick! Good to see you!
I need your help."
N: (raising his eyebrows)
"Emergency C?"
H: "No. One of my patients
has sliced her palm on a bagel slicer."
M: "Why didn't she go to
the suture clinic?"
H: "She already had an appointment
with me for an ultrasound but her palm looks worse. And the suture tech's
"gone to lunch".
N: "I'll take a look."
The three docs head back
towards the working offices of Presidio.
N: "Oh! Before I forget,
Matt, Rae said that Mrs Winters is a changed woman."
M: "Hmpf! That's a long shot.
That woman was born to shoot verbal bb guns."
N: "Not according to Rae."
H: "Debbie told me about
her mother. If she was worried about her diagnosis, then her behavior most
likely was a self-defense system."
M: "Not the way she uses
vituperative verbal sniper attacks."
N: "Anyways, she's much better."
M: "She's also Rae's patient
now."
H: "Only until she needs
something else from you, Matt. You are her internist now."
M: (his face falls)
"Damn. Forgot I head patients into the various departments."
The three docs have reached
the diversion point.
N: "See you tomorrow. Oh,
would Harriet be of use?"
H: "Me? For what?"
M: "I'm scheduling a press
conference down on Noriega Street to help dispel the rumors going around.
I need a bunch of physicians milling around in the background."
H: "I saw the news reports.
Let me know when the press conference is. But be careful and don't have
too many physicians around. That would make us doctors appear like we eat
all afternoon instead of doctoring."
N: "You must be David's clone."
M: "That was almost exactly
what he said."
H: "See you around." Matt
nods, then leaves. "Nick, this way. I left her in the ultrasound room."
N: "Send her down to my suture
room."
H: "All right."
Harriet and Nick go their
ways, Nick's way is after the retreating Matt.
...Rae is driving across
the Golden Gate Bridge. Her car windows are open, and the soft spring breeze
is blowing her hair around. She's put on sunglasses and the cd player is
playing a Josh Grobin song: Canto Alla Vita.
Rae isn't sure what to
do about her life and her life is going to get a bit more difficult with
not only with a divorce but a a date rape trial--the police
investigation has just begun. She's glad the media hounds haven't come
sniffing yet. She is especially pleased that the university has done a
lot to quash the information.
Truthfully, she was shocked
and stunned to discover how slickly Robert Winningham managed to avoid
being interviewed by the police until the DNA test results were in. Even
more shocking was the fact Robert knew the dna results showed the baby
is his.
Had the results showed
Nick or Sean to be the father, then Rae's claim of date rape could be debunked.
But Robert stayed unavailable
to the police and kept his mouth shut until the dna results came in. Had
he been interviewed prior to the dna test results, he could have said that
he never had sex with Rae or that he was never at Rae’s house at any time
in the past two months. By waiting until the test results were in, Robert
can stick to one story: the sex was consensual.
She thinks the police
were lax about getting the interview--couldn't they have tried interviewing
him at 2 am? Surely he was home then, sleeping perhaps.
Or maybe someone spilled
the beans.
Rae winces at that last
thought--for she spilled the information that Jules was trying to set Nick
up wtih a date. There's also the possibility that Brenda, the former ER
nurse under Doctor Howland, knew Robert--Rae will have to check around
about Brenda.
Rae knows the media will
flame her for having an affair with Nick during her marriage to Sean
and Rae knows that Sean will get even with her by going back to court for
more marital assets.
She's not sure how the
media will treat Nick, but she thinks Nick might get off quite lightly.
Of course, with Nick's
looks, the whole thing might turn to his advantage.
Biting her lower lip,
Rae brushes a hank of hair out of her eyes. It's quite useless to brush
her hair out of her eyes, as she has all the car windows open and for once,
the traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge is moving along at a nice clip.
Then again, she left Presidio's
offices before rush hour, so that might explain the light traffic.
Rae's car phone rings.
Turning the cd player off, she pushes the button on the hands free speaker
phone.
N: "It's Nick. You all right?"
R: "Yeah. Just going for
dinner in Sausalito this evening."
N: "Seafood?"
R: "Thinking of it."
N: "You didn't tell me what
else happened in the interview. In fact, you didn't introduce me to the
nice detective before she left."
R: "Don't get all sarcastic
on me, else I won't tell you what else happened."
N: "You will tell me anyways."
R: (sighing) "You're
right. Wanna know what Robert did?"
N: "What?"
R: "He managed to avoid being
interviewed by the police until the results of the fetal DNA test were
in."
N: "Neat trick."
R: "I'd say."
N: "He could have claimed
the baby was either Sean's or mine. Or that he was never at your house."
R: "I know that. He also
knew the dna test results."
N: "That sounds like an inside
job."
R: "Looks like it. Also by
the looks of it, Robert can stick to one story by being unavailable for
a police interview until the test results were in."
N: "Terry said that Brenda
wasn't terminated until yesterday."
R: "I told Detective Rodriguez
about Brenda."
N: "Good."
R: "I am not happy about
this development."
N: "Neither am I. I can't
talk long. Harriet sent me a woman who sliced her palm open. I just wanted
to see how you're doing."
R: "Oh you know me. I'll
muddle through. Just another war I have to fight. Thanks for phoning."
N: "Welcome. Have a good
night."
Before Rae can answer,
Nick hangs up. She reaches over and clicks off the speakerphone then turns
the cd back on.
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