Two 'sorry's coming up...
Sorry Number 1: Sorry it took so long to update this story. Between some personal stuff, and having alot of Uni work thrust upon me, I just didn't have the time till recently. I'll try to keep the updates more frequent from now on.
Sorry Number 2: Sorry this chapter is so short and filler-y. Its really just to establish whats wrong with JD, the repurcussions of that will be in the next chapters. Oh, and I researched this particular condition as best I could, but if I've got some things messed up then I apologise.
Also, since she's been advertising my story, I'd like to tell anyone who hasn't (Especially JD/Elliot fans) to check out anything written by Tell Her This, who's stories are fantastic. A personal favourite is "Catch My Disease", but they're all awesome!
P.S. The website went kind of weird while I was uploading this, so if there's any problems, just send me a PM and I'll try and sort it out.
"Retrograde Amnesia." The words rolled off Dr Dickinson's tongue. He said this just as he shut the door to JD's room behind him.
The group of people in front of him, who had been waiting nervously for him to join them, had different reactions to his statement. Carla was too busy looking through the window into JD's room, watching him sitting on his bed with an almost blank expression on his face, to have properly heard Dickinson's announcement. Dr Cox was waiting for a further explanation, staring at the other Doctor as if he had five minutes to explain what was wrong with JD, and what they could do to fix it; because they would be able to fix it; or he would have his head ripped off. Turk was in between his wife and Cox, alternating between worried glances at JD through his window and attentive glances at the Doctor in front of him, wanting to hear exactly what the situation was.
Dr Dickinson, initially at least, didn't do what any of them wanted. Instead, he just let his statement hang in the air, rocking back and forth slightly on his heels, as if those two words were all that needed to be said.
Finally, Dr Cox could take no more.
"Is that it?" he snapped. "You're gonna say that and expect us to know what you mean?"
To his credit, Dickinson didn't flinch at Cox's raised voice.
"No." Dickinson said. "But, in my experience, launching straight into an explanation after pronouncing a diagnosis can be overwhelming for a patient's loved ones."
Dr Cox looked at Turk, with a 'Is this guy for real?' expression.
"We're Doctors, you idiot, we give bad news every day. I think you'll be able to tell us what's wrong with someone, without us all having breakdowns!"
Again, Dickinson seemed unperturbed by Cox's growing anger.
"Very well then." he said, and taking a deep breath, continued. "Dr Dorian suffered damage to the brain regions most closely associated with episodic or declarative memory."
At this point, it seemed Dr Dickinson had already lost both Carla and Turk. Carla's training didn't deal so much with the layout of the brain, and Turk was a surgeon meaning he focused only on the part of the body he was slicing open that day. So neither knew much about how a person stores their memories. And so, Dickinson felt the need to elaborate.
"Different sides of the brain store different types of memories. The right side; declarative memory; is a bank of personal information - name, family, friends, life experiences - that sort of thing. It looks like the damage from the accident only affected that side of the brain. The left side; Non-declarative, appears fine from my initial exam. Non-declarative memory works on an unconscious level. It's how JD can still walk and talk and do all the things that a person does naturally without thought."
There was a brief pause as Cox, Carla and Turk took that in.
"So, JD doesn't know who we are?" Carla asked.
"I'm sorry, no." Dickinson replied, with a sympathetic shake of his head.
"So, what can we do." Cox said, accepting the problem and immediately going about setting it right.
But Dickinson paused himself before answering.
"Nothing."
Again, there was another brief silence, this time as the three wondered if they'd heard that right.
"What do you mean 'nothing'?" Turk said.
"I mean there's no medical treatment I can give JD. I can examine him from time to time to see if there's been any progress, but his memory will either return by itself over time… or it might not come back at all."
Carla closed her eyes, and Turk quickly grabbed her hand.
"Well, what chance does it have of coming back?" Cox asked.
"50/50. The best thing you can do is let JD rest up for a little bit, then take him places and show him things that were important to him, that might jog his memory. Don't push it, if his memory comes back, it'll take time. And, I'm sorry, I really am, but you have to prepare yourself for it not coming back all."
Turk felt Carla grasp his hand, and he knew she was crying. He grasped right back, because he was trying to hold back tears himself. Dr Cox just had a vacant look on his face, and Turk didn't think it had truly hit him yet.
"Can we see him?" Carla mumbled.
Dickinson looked at her, and even though he'd had patient's relatives look at him like that a hundred times before, it still broke his heart.
"I'm sorry." he said. "But if you all go in… it might be a little much to have three people telling him they know him. Only one of you can go in, for now."
Without another word, Cox turned and walked away. The Turks shared a look, and agreed without talking.
Dr Dickson stepped aside to let Carla in.
