Post by StoryGirl83 on Nov 17, 2009 0:32:27 GMT -5
Chapter Twelve – Speed Dial
Dr. Darrin came into Wyatt’s room to find it well overloaded with guests. “Everyone out. It’s time to do those tests.”
Bianca’s eyes held panic. “What if . . ?”
“Don’t worry,” Wyatt told her. “I know what to look for now.”
“You won’t be able to. . .” Piper’s voice trailed off as she caught Dr. Darrin given them a confused look.
“I’ll be fine.” He turned his head to look at Dr. Darrin. “Still no movement that I can tell of, but I need you to promise me two things before I can convince them to leave.”
“I can’t make any promises, and if they don’t leave, I’ll call security.”
“You don’t want to do that. Just make these promises and they will leave.” Wyatt gave his mom a look of affection. “They are just worried about me.”
“No promises.”
“They aren’t that hard,” Wyatt assured him.
“I’m listening.”
“I want you to promise that no matter what you are doing you don’t put me out. I need to be conscious.”
“This could be very painful now that you are getting the feeling back in your legs,” Dr. Darrin informed him. “It may not be, but the potential is there.”
Wyatt nodded. “I realize that. All the same I need to be fully conscious or else I need someone from my family allowed in the room.”
“Is that the other promise?”
“No, the other promise is that you have to personally conduct any test that involves touching me.”
“Those are generally conducted by the nurses.”
Wyatt heaved in a deep breath. “On the ground to the left of my bed is a needle with some sort of serum. I don’t know what it is, but I can pretty much guarantee that if you test it you will find the contents to be something that would kill someone if they were injected with it. Right now I am very apprehensive about letting anyone I don’t know anywhere near me.”
Dr. Darrin walked around the bed and looked at the needle lying unmoving on the ground. “Where did that come from?”
“I really couldn’t say, but unless you give me both of those promises I am going to just have to refuse treatment, completely.”
“That’s a bit extreme. If something we are doing could actually allow you to walk again . . .”
“Then, it is already doing whatever it is that will get me there. This morning I could feel nothing. Now, I have almost complete feeling back. I can’t move, but I can feel. That’s an incredible amount of progress in a small amount of time. I know that it is. I also know someone tried to kill me and that’s not a good feeling. I just don’t want to give that person another chance.”
Dr. Darrin looked at the determined face of his patient and around the room at Leo and Piper, then at the Holbrookes. He sighed as he and turned back to Leo and Piper. “I will call you up if we need him to go under.”
“And the other?”
Dr. Darrin was silent as he looked at those in the room. “Don’t touch that syringe. The police will want to look at it.”
“Police?” Piper gasped.
“Mrs. Halliwell, your son said someone attacked him,” Dr. Darrin reminded her. “I’m obligated to call the police.”
“That is your choice I suppose,” Wyatt admitted, not liking it, “but I’d rather not deal with them, again.”
“Someone tried to kill you once,” Dr. Darrin reminded him. “That’s why you are here. Now, you say someone tried, again.”
Wyatt sighed. “Fine, but not until you get your tests over.”
“They can talk to you after the tests, but I’m calling them as soon as I leave this room.” He turned to look at Lawrence and Bianca. “I’m sorry, but you are going to have to stay until the police talk to you.”
“Why?” The question came from Ashlyn. She looked at him from her mother’s arms. “I want butterflies.”
Confused, Dr. Darrin looked at her. “Butterflies?”
“We had planned to see a movie about butterflies,” Lawrence explained. “Our plans were changed. I’m afraid the change was lost on my daughter.” He held out his hand. “Lawrence Holbrooke, if that interests you to know. This is my wife, Bianca, and our daughter Ashlyn. I figure if the police are going to be interviewing us I should let you know who you are dealing with.”
Dr. Darrin frowned. “I don’t understand. What do you mean who I am dealing with?”
Lawrence smiled. “You’ll see.” He pulled out his cell phone. “Fill free to use this to call the police, hit eight pound to get the chief of police’s direct line . . . wait, that’s for Oakland. Nine pound for San Francisco. I should warn you, they will be wondering what you did with me, whichever one you call.”
Dr. Darrin stared at the phone. “Why do you have the chief of police for two cities on speed dial?”
“Five cities between my cell phone and my wife’s.”
“But why?”
“Well, two of them are my brothers, one’s a cousin, and the two on my wife’s cell were in her sorority in college.” Lawrence chuckled. “You should see some of the other numbers she has on speed dial.”
Dr. Darrin relaxed slightly. “So if I called the San Francisco police chief?”
“That’s my baby brother, Sheldon Holbrooke, though he’s only acting chief. The real chief is on leave.” When Dr. Darrin made no move to take the offered cell phone Lawrence shrugged. “Have it your way.” He punched in some numbers and everyone watched with varied emotions, from curiosity to annoyance, as he waited for the phone to be answered. And when it was no one heard the other side of the conversation as he only said, “Sheldon, it’s me.” He listened for several seconds making some sound that sounded like affirmation and then, “I will see you shortly.” He chuckled. “Right, Memorial. Yes, a hospital. No, we are all fine. No, I saw nothing, but yes it is official business.” He sighed. “Yes or no.” He nodded. “Good. Wyatt Halliwell’s room.” He listened another moment and then snorted. “What kind of question is that? Of course she is.” He smiled, “See you soon,” and hung up.
Lawrence looked at the curious eyes around him. The first ones to hit him were those of his daughter.
Ashlyn’s eyes were wide. “Uncle Shelly coming?”
Lawrence laughed. “Yes, Ashlyn, Uncle Sheldon is coming.”