Stormy Weather II
by matahari2
Summary / Disclaimers, etc.: See Chapter 1
Feedback: Yes! Please! Read and Review!
Chapter Two – More Storms in the Forecast
Stetson Residence – Early Friday Morning
"Amanda!" Lee yelled from the recesses of the walk-in closet, "what happened to my dark blue suit? I just wore it about a week ago, and now I can't find it!"
About a dozen innocent wooden suit hangers clacked together, victims of his frenetic search, before Amanda stepped in and found the suit he'd been looking for, just inside the door. She touched his hand to gain his attention, then smiled sweetly as she lifted the hanger, saying, "It's right here, Lee."
Lee mumbled a quick "Thanks" and swiped the hanger from her hands, dashing back into the bedroom and laying the suit on the bed. Amanda didn't fail to notice that he pressed the fingers of his left hand across his forehead, scrunching his eyes closed for a moment before picking up his pants and hurriedly pulling them on.
"Another headache?" she asked softly, as she quietly crossed the distance to stand beside him.
When she reached a hand up to touch his shoulder, he shuddered and spun his head around to face her, shouting, "What?!? Amanda! Please. . .don't creep up on me like that!" At her shocked expression, he searched her eyes and touched her forearms gently, sliding his hands down to her wrists and lightly holding her fingers. "Hey. . .I'm sorry," he said, this time in a much quieter tone of voice. "It's just that I didn't see you coming, and. . ."
He interrupted his own train of thought as a look of confusion passed across his face. Then he continued, "Wait. . .did you ask me something?"
"Yes, Sweetheart," she answered, slipping one of her hands free and reaching up to smooth back a few loose strands of hair that had fallen onto his forehead. "I asked if you were having another one of your headaches."
"Yeah. . ." he said, nodding and studying the carpet fibers for a moment. He looked up into her eyes and asked with a self-deprecating grin, "What was your first clue. . .that I'm not exactly 'Mr. Congeniality' this morning?"
She gave him a small smile with her answer. "Well. . .there is that," she began, with a quick wink. Then the worry began to show in her eyes, as she gripped his hand tightly and admitted, "But Lee, I saw that look of pain on your face just a moment ago. You can't hide it from me all the time. . .you know?"
"Oh yeah. . .I know," he whispered, tipping his head to the side and rolling his eyes. As he shifted his gaze off to the side, he caught sight of the large red numbers on the bedside alarm clock, 7:50, they said. He turned to face her again, giving her hand a gentle squeeze and saying in a husky voice, "Speaking of which. . .time, that is. . .I guess we'd better get going. . .but not before this," he said, giving her a soft kiss and pulling her into his embrace, just as the doorbell sounded.
Stretching back to look into his eyes, Amanda couldn't resist saying, "You know something, Mr. Stetson? You really need to work on your timing!" She quickly returned his kiss before he could respond, and turned on her heel toward the doorway. "That'll be Mother," she said, looking back over her shoulder as she started to descend the stairs.
"Be down in a minute," he called to her as he started working on his tie.
********
Agency Clinic Waiting Room – Friday 9:30 a.m.
"Lee!" Amanda said in a whispered shout over her magazine, "Sit down! Shoot, you're going to wear out the carpet, pacing like that!"
He stopped to turn and glare at her, tapping on his watch with his index finger as he groaned, "A-man-da! An appointment's an appointment, y'know? What is it with doctors, anyway?" he asked, throwing his hands up in frustration. Then he started pacing again and beginning his list of reasons why he should be anywhere else but in a doctor's office. "There are a lot of other things I could be doing. . .should be doing right now. I've got a stack of agents' reports I need to sign off before they can go to record storage, and there's the budget cuts we have to work out for Field section and. . ."
"Lee. . .stop. . .please?" she pleaded, reaching out to tug at his hand and stop him mid-stride, motioning with her head for him to come and sit down beside her.
He scowled first, but he complied, albeit grudgingly, slumping into the chair and grumbling under his breath, "Doctors!"
At that precise moment, the friendly-faced nurse opened the door holding a manila folder in her hand. "Mr. Stetson?" she asked.
Lee's mouth went dry and he gripped Amanda's hand once more, turning to her before responding with a nod to the nurse. "Go on! I'll be right here," Amanda mouthed silently, watching him as he slowly made his way toward the examining room. Her heart ached for the lost, scared little boy who still made his existence known at times like these. She knew Lee would rather she went in with him, but she also knew it wasn't customary doctor's office protocol, so she'd wait patiently, at least for the moment.
********
Dr. Avram Samad slid his reading glasses into position below the bridge of his nose as he carefully perused the notes he'd written in the file during the examination. He placed the file down on the instrument cabinet and pulled his glasses off, folding the earpieces in and gesturing with the spectacles as he spoke. "Mr. Stetson, I must tell you that your headaches concern me, indeed, they concern me very much, especially the timing, you understand? . . .that they seem to come on strongest upon waking. And then there is this trouble with your peripheral vision. . .you tell me this is a recent occurrence, correct? Yes," he said, answering his own, apparently rhetorical, question, before Lee could open his mouth. "And then of course, you have admitted to me that along with the headaches has come a certain degree of irritability. These symptoms, put together, could very well be indications of. . ." Dr. Samad started to say, but Lee could see the look on the man's face as he appeared to change his mind. As though he'd flipped a switch in his brain, the doctor went on without missing a beat, "Well then, let's run some tests, shall we? First, a thorough blood work-up, and then an MRI of the brain and a series of skull X-rays. . ."
After Dr. Samad had run through the series of tests with Lee, he guided him back to the receptionist's desk, handing her the test orders and Lee's file. The two men shook hands, and the doctor walked back toward the examining rooms. Lee called Amanda over, and they worked out the appointment times for each test.
As they wound their way through the Agency corridors, Amanda prodded, "Well? What'd he have to say?"
"Not much, actually," Lee answered, his disappointment showing in his downcast eyes. As they continued their walk toward the bullpen, Lee went on with his brief report. "I mean, he went through all the symptoms we know about, and he started to say something about. . .that they could be a strong indication of. . .something, but he didn't say what, exactly. He just said, Let's run some tests, shall we?" Lee imitated, in the doctor's chirpy, sing-song style.
Amanda couldn't stop the small chuckle that tickled her throat, but as Lee finished telling her about the tests the doctor had ordered, her worry- quotient kicked up several notches. "Lee, I don't want to upset you, but those tests. . .I mean other than the blood tests. . .everybody has blood tests. . .well, anyway, the MRI and the skull X-rays, and I think you said something about. . .they might do additional tests, like a CT scan and maybe even a PET scan depending on what the other tests show. . ." she said, all in a rush, hesitating as they crossed the bullpen and walked into his office. She wasn't sure she wanted to finish what she'd started to say. She simply stood there, frozen in place, her eyes hollowed with fear, as Lee closed the blinds and wrapped his arms around her tenderly, resting his chin on her shoulder as he whispered in her ear, "I know, I know."
She slipped her hands around his waist and held on for dear life.
********
On the way home from the Agency that evening, Lee reached over and took Amanda's hand and said, "We agree then. As far as the family's concerned, I'm simply having some tests to see what they can do for my headaches, right?"
"Right," Amanda answered from behind the steering wheel, her eyes fixed on the road ahead of them.
"Because that's all we actually know. . ." he began.
Amanda interrupted, "I guess that's true. . .in a way. . .well. . ." she hedged, flashing a sidelong glance at her husband. "It's all we know. . .for sure."
********
Over the weekend, Lee and Amanda did their best to fill the days with activities for Jenny, and to deflect her persistent questions. Amanda took her to Applegate Farm Stables for her riding lesson on Saturday morning, and the three of them drove into town to take in lunch and a movie. . .the first decent G-rated movie they'd been able to find in a long time. They even pulled a board game out of the hall closet in an effort to focus Jenny's attention, as well as their own, on something other than Lee's tests on Monday. But even 'Monopoly' didn't completely shut down 'the great interrogator' as Lee was beginning to think of his determined young daughter.
As she rolled the dice and counted the spaces, moving her game piece a few steps closer to Park Place, Jenny asked, "Why, Daddy? What do they think is wrong?"
He dipped his head slightly to look into her eyes as he answered, "Jennifer Stetson, for the one hundred and ninety-ninth time today. . .the doctor didn't say." 'At least, not in so many words,' he should have said; instead he held that bit of truth in check. "Now, please, no more questions, okay?" he insisted, quirking an eyebrow and giving Jenny a quick, lopsided grin. "At least not until we know something. . .for sure," he finished, making eye contact with Amanda across the table.
"Oh. . .all right. . .I guess," Jenny said, her protruding lower lip revealing her disappointment, as her eyes followed the path of her finger, tracing the damask pattern in the tablecloth.
"Anybody for ice cream?" Amanda offered, trying against all odds to lighten the mood.
Her efforts met with faint acceptance, only a mixture of "Yeah, sure, whatever. . ." from her husband and daughter. Well, she'd tried. She shook her head at the two of them and went to the kitchen to see to their dessert.
Thirty minutes later, they gave up on the Monopoly game, and Lee went on up to the bedroom. Jenny stayed downstairs for a few minutes to help Amanda with the ice cream dishes and spoons. "Mom?"
"Yes?" Amanda questioned in return, leaning into the island and resting her hand on the countertop.
"I know Dad said no more questions, but. . ." Jenny began, turning to face her mother and leaning her back against the sink. "Mom, I heard Jamie and Phillip talking last Sunday night, and Phillip said he was afraid Daddy might have a. . ."
"I know. . ." Amanda interrupted, keeping her voice low. "I know, Sweetheart. And he's right. . .that's a possibility, but only one of the possibilities, okay?" She moved to stand beside Jenny, slipping an arm around her shoulder as she continued, "And your Dad was telling you the truth earlier. His doctor didn't tell him exactly what it was he suspected." At Jenny's incredulous look, she admitted, "All right, so he stopped just short of telling him. . .anyway, the tests won't happen until Monday, and we really won't know anything. . .for sure, until at least Wednesday, when Dad sees the doctor again." She turned Jenny's shoulders so she could look into her eyes as she asked, "So do you think you could cut him some slack at least until then? Hm?"
"Okay. . .I'll try," Jenny answered. "It's just that I love him so much, and I'm so sc-"
"I understand, Sweetie. . ." Amanda said quietly as she began to guide Jenny over to the staircase. "We're all a little bit scared, but we have to believe everything will turn out all right. So hang in there, okay?" she asked, squeezing Jenny's shoulder and giving her a slight push as they continued up the stairs. 'A little bit scared? That had to be the understatement of the year!' Amanda thought to herself as she reached out to open their bedroom door.
********
Wednesday morning, Lee and Amanda sat in two tall, wing-backed leather chairs in Dr. Samad's office, waiting for him to finish with another patient. As he scanned the walls covered with Samad's diplomas, certificates, licenses and honors, Lee had to admit, at least to himself, that Monday's tests had been relatively painless, well, except for the needle sticks for the blood tests and when they'd injected him with the dye for the MRI. He was thankful he didn't have to stay in that tube-thing too long. As fidgety as he could be after waiting in the doctor's office a few minutes, he congratulated himself that holding completely still for any length of time had been a major accomplishment.
"He's doing it again, Amanda," he said, drumming his fingers on the arms of his chair. "Why is it you always, always have to wait in the doctor's office?" he asked in frustration, just as the door opened behind them.
"I am so sorry, Mr. Stetson. . .Mrs. Stetson," Dr. Samad apologized, bowing his head to each of them in turn as he rounded the large mahogany desk and seated himself. "I realize that both of you have very busy schedules." He put on his reading glasses and opened Lee's file, now a good two inches thick, before continuing to speak. "Mr. Stetson. . .I will come directly to the point. You see, your tests have established that there is a large mass, most likely a brain tumor, located in the area of the cerebrum, and that the intracranial pressure from the mass itself or from associated edema may be pressing against your optic nerves." He looked up from the file as he continued, "This would explain the visual effects you have experienced of late. Now, Mr. Stetson, I have written you a referral to a neurosurgeon on staff with the N.E.S.T. team, Dr. Jacob Gottlieb, an excellent surgeon." Dr. Samad reached across the desk to hand Lee Dr. Gottlieb's card, but when Lee didn't respond or attempt to accept the card, he stood up and came around to stand beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder as he laid the card down on the desktop. "I understand completely, Mr. Stetson. Dr. Gottlieb will take very good care of you—have no fear. Now, I really must attend to my other patients, but please. . .take as long as you wish here. There is no rush," he said quietly, nodding to Lee and then to Amanda before leaving the office and closing the door behind him.
At the words 'brain tumor', Lee had stopped listening. He closed his eyes tightly, and he could feel his heart pounding against his ribs as his hands held the chair's arms in a death-grip. The fear he'd held in check until now churned in his mind. He flinched at Amanda's gentle touch on his arm, and looked up in shock to see that the doctor had left the room. Blinking his eyes a few times and shaking his head in a vain attempt to clear it of all the disturbing thoughts, he finally turned his gaze on Amanda. "What the. . .oh. I'm sorry Amanda. What were you saying?"
"Lee," she began quietly, taking his hand in hers and gently stroking his arm. "Let's take this one step at a time, all right?" she suggested, her comforting tone hiding her own anxieties. "Dr. Samad has referred you to a surgeon, Dr. Gottlieb there," she said, indicating the card. "He said Dr. Gottlieb was very good. If you want, I'll talk to the receptionist and set up the appointment for you."
"No, no, that's all right," he said, shaking his head slightly and gaining a modicum of control over his emotions. "I'll be all right," he said with a slight nod. He continued to hold her hand as he stood up from the chair, saying, "Come on, let's go."
Amanda went with him silently as he made the appointment with the surgeon for the following afternoon. She kept reminding herself of the wise advice she'd offered, 'One step at a time, Amanda, one step at a time. Okay, so maybe it's a brain tumor, but that doesn't mean. . .necessarily. . .one step at a time, Amanda, one step at a time.'
TO BE CONTINUED
by matahari2
Summary / Disclaimers, etc.: See Chapter 1
Feedback: Yes! Please! Read and Review!
Chapter Two – More Storms in the Forecast
Stetson Residence – Early Friday Morning
"Amanda!" Lee yelled from the recesses of the walk-in closet, "what happened to my dark blue suit? I just wore it about a week ago, and now I can't find it!"
About a dozen innocent wooden suit hangers clacked together, victims of his frenetic search, before Amanda stepped in and found the suit he'd been looking for, just inside the door. She touched his hand to gain his attention, then smiled sweetly as she lifted the hanger, saying, "It's right here, Lee."
Lee mumbled a quick "Thanks" and swiped the hanger from her hands, dashing back into the bedroom and laying the suit on the bed. Amanda didn't fail to notice that he pressed the fingers of his left hand across his forehead, scrunching his eyes closed for a moment before picking up his pants and hurriedly pulling them on.
"Another headache?" she asked softly, as she quietly crossed the distance to stand beside him.
When she reached a hand up to touch his shoulder, he shuddered and spun his head around to face her, shouting, "What?!? Amanda! Please. . .don't creep up on me like that!" At her shocked expression, he searched her eyes and touched her forearms gently, sliding his hands down to her wrists and lightly holding her fingers. "Hey. . .I'm sorry," he said, this time in a much quieter tone of voice. "It's just that I didn't see you coming, and. . ."
He interrupted his own train of thought as a look of confusion passed across his face. Then he continued, "Wait. . .did you ask me something?"
"Yes, Sweetheart," she answered, slipping one of her hands free and reaching up to smooth back a few loose strands of hair that had fallen onto his forehead. "I asked if you were having another one of your headaches."
"Yeah. . ." he said, nodding and studying the carpet fibers for a moment. He looked up into her eyes and asked with a self-deprecating grin, "What was your first clue. . .that I'm not exactly 'Mr. Congeniality' this morning?"
She gave him a small smile with her answer. "Well. . .there is that," she began, with a quick wink. Then the worry began to show in her eyes, as she gripped his hand tightly and admitted, "But Lee, I saw that look of pain on your face just a moment ago. You can't hide it from me all the time. . .you know?"
"Oh yeah. . .I know," he whispered, tipping his head to the side and rolling his eyes. As he shifted his gaze off to the side, he caught sight of the large red numbers on the bedside alarm clock, 7:50, they said. He turned to face her again, giving her hand a gentle squeeze and saying in a husky voice, "Speaking of which. . .time, that is. . .I guess we'd better get going. . .but not before this," he said, giving her a soft kiss and pulling her into his embrace, just as the doorbell sounded.
Stretching back to look into his eyes, Amanda couldn't resist saying, "You know something, Mr. Stetson? You really need to work on your timing!" She quickly returned his kiss before he could respond, and turned on her heel toward the doorway. "That'll be Mother," she said, looking back over her shoulder as she started to descend the stairs.
"Be down in a minute," he called to her as he started working on his tie.
********
Agency Clinic Waiting Room – Friday 9:30 a.m.
"Lee!" Amanda said in a whispered shout over her magazine, "Sit down! Shoot, you're going to wear out the carpet, pacing like that!"
He stopped to turn and glare at her, tapping on his watch with his index finger as he groaned, "A-man-da! An appointment's an appointment, y'know? What is it with doctors, anyway?" he asked, throwing his hands up in frustration. Then he started pacing again and beginning his list of reasons why he should be anywhere else but in a doctor's office. "There are a lot of other things I could be doing. . .should be doing right now. I've got a stack of agents' reports I need to sign off before they can go to record storage, and there's the budget cuts we have to work out for Field section and. . ."
"Lee. . .stop. . .please?" she pleaded, reaching out to tug at his hand and stop him mid-stride, motioning with her head for him to come and sit down beside her.
He scowled first, but he complied, albeit grudgingly, slumping into the chair and grumbling under his breath, "Doctors!"
At that precise moment, the friendly-faced nurse opened the door holding a manila folder in her hand. "Mr. Stetson?" she asked.
Lee's mouth went dry and he gripped Amanda's hand once more, turning to her before responding with a nod to the nurse. "Go on! I'll be right here," Amanda mouthed silently, watching him as he slowly made his way toward the examining room. Her heart ached for the lost, scared little boy who still made his existence known at times like these. She knew Lee would rather she went in with him, but she also knew it wasn't customary doctor's office protocol, so she'd wait patiently, at least for the moment.
********
Dr. Avram Samad slid his reading glasses into position below the bridge of his nose as he carefully perused the notes he'd written in the file during the examination. He placed the file down on the instrument cabinet and pulled his glasses off, folding the earpieces in and gesturing with the spectacles as he spoke. "Mr. Stetson, I must tell you that your headaches concern me, indeed, they concern me very much, especially the timing, you understand? . . .that they seem to come on strongest upon waking. And then there is this trouble with your peripheral vision. . .you tell me this is a recent occurrence, correct? Yes," he said, answering his own, apparently rhetorical, question, before Lee could open his mouth. "And then of course, you have admitted to me that along with the headaches has come a certain degree of irritability. These symptoms, put together, could very well be indications of. . ." Dr. Samad started to say, but Lee could see the look on the man's face as he appeared to change his mind. As though he'd flipped a switch in his brain, the doctor went on without missing a beat, "Well then, let's run some tests, shall we? First, a thorough blood work-up, and then an MRI of the brain and a series of skull X-rays. . ."
After Dr. Samad had run through the series of tests with Lee, he guided him back to the receptionist's desk, handing her the test orders and Lee's file. The two men shook hands, and the doctor walked back toward the examining rooms. Lee called Amanda over, and they worked out the appointment times for each test.
As they wound their way through the Agency corridors, Amanda prodded, "Well? What'd he have to say?"
"Not much, actually," Lee answered, his disappointment showing in his downcast eyes. As they continued their walk toward the bullpen, Lee went on with his brief report. "I mean, he went through all the symptoms we know about, and he started to say something about. . .that they could be a strong indication of. . .something, but he didn't say what, exactly. He just said, Let's run some tests, shall we?" Lee imitated, in the doctor's chirpy, sing-song style.
Amanda couldn't stop the small chuckle that tickled her throat, but as Lee finished telling her about the tests the doctor had ordered, her worry- quotient kicked up several notches. "Lee, I don't want to upset you, but those tests. . .I mean other than the blood tests. . .everybody has blood tests. . .well, anyway, the MRI and the skull X-rays, and I think you said something about. . .they might do additional tests, like a CT scan and maybe even a PET scan depending on what the other tests show. . ." she said, all in a rush, hesitating as they crossed the bullpen and walked into his office. She wasn't sure she wanted to finish what she'd started to say. She simply stood there, frozen in place, her eyes hollowed with fear, as Lee closed the blinds and wrapped his arms around her tenderly, resting his chin on her shoulder as he whispered in her ear, "I know, I know."
She slipped her hands around his waist and held on for dear life.
********
On the way home from the Agency that evening, Lee reached over and took Amanda's hand and said, "We agree then. As far as the family's concerned, I'm simply having some tests to see what they can do for my headaches, right?"
"Right," Amanda answered from behind the steering wheel, her eyes fixed on the road ahead of them.
"Because that's all we actually know. . ." he began.
Amanda interrupted, "I guess that's true. . .in a way. . .well. . ." she hedged, flashing a sidelong glance at her husband. "It's all we know. . .for sure."
********
Over the weekend, Lee and Amanda did their best to fill the days with activities for Jenny, and to deflect her persistent questions. Amanda took her to Applegate Farm Stables for her riding lesson on Saturday morning, and the three of them drove into town to take in lunch and a movie. . .the first decent G-rated movie they'd been able to find in a long time. They even pulled a board game out of the hall closet in an effort to focus Jenny's attention, as well as their own, on something other than Lee's tests on Monday. But even 'Monopoly' didn't completely shut down 'the great interrogator' as Lee was beginning to think of his determined young daughter.
As she rolled the dice and counted the spaces, moving her game piece a few steps closer to Park Place, Jenny asked, "Why, Daddy? What do they think is wrong?"
He dipped his head slightly to look into her eyes as he answered, "Jennifer Stetson, for the one hundred and ninety-ninth time today. . .the doctor didn't say." 'At least, not in so many words,' he should have said; instead he held that bit of truth in check. "Now, please, no more questions, okay?" he insisted, quirking an eyebrow and giving Jenny a quick, lopsided grin. "At least not until we know something. . .for sure," he finished, making eye contact with Amanda across the table.
"Oh. . .all right. . .I guess," Jenny said, her protruding lower lip revealing her disappointment, as her eyes followed the path of her finger, tracing the damask pattern in the tablecloth.
"Anybody for ice cream?" Amanda offered, trying against all odds to lighten the mood.
Her efforts met with faint acceptance, only a mixture of "Yeah, sure, whatever. . ." from her husband and daughter. Well, she'd tried. She shook her head at the two of them and went to the kitchen to see to their dessert.
Thirty minutes later, they gave up on the Monopoly game, and Lee went on up to the bedroom. Jenny stayed downstairs for a few minutes to help Amanda with the ice cream dishes and spoons. "Mom?"
"Yes?" Amanda questioned in return, leaning into the island and resting her hand on the countertop.
"I know Dad said no more questions, but. . ." Jenny began, turning to face her mother and leaning her back against the sink. "Mom, I heard Jamie and Phillip talking last Sunday night, and Phillip said he was afraid Daddy might have a. . ."
"I know. . ." Amanda interrupted, keeping her voice low. "I know, Sweetheart. And he's right. . .that's a possibility, but only one of the possibilities, okay?" She moved to stand beside Jenny, slipping an arm around her shoulder as she continued, "And your Dad was telling you the truth earlier. His doctor didn't tell him exactly what it was he suspected." At Jenny's incredulous look, she admitted, "All right, so he stopped just short of telling him. . .anyway, the tests won't happen until Monday, and we really won't know anything. . .for sure, until at least Wednesday, when Dad sees the doctor again." She turned Jenny's shoulders so she could look into her eyes as she asked, "So do you think you could cut him some slack at least until then? Hm?"
"Okay. . .I'll try," Jenny answered. "It's just that I love him so much, and I'm so sc-"
"I understand, Sweetie. . ." Amanda said quietly as she began to guide Jenny over to the staircase. "We're all a little bit scared, but we have to believe everything will turn out all right. So hang in there, okay?" she asked, squeezing Jenny's shoulder and giving her a slight push as they continued up the stairs. 'A little bit scared? That had to be the understatement of the year!' Amanda thought to herself as she reached out to open their bedroom door.
********
Wednesday morning, Lee and Amanda sat in two tall, wing-backed leather chairs in Dr. Samad's office, waiting for him to finish with another patient. As he scanned the walls covered with Samad's diplomas, certificates, licenses and honors, Lee had to admit, at least to himself, that Monday's tests had been relatively painless, well, except for the needle sticks for the blood tests and when they'd injected him with the dye for the MRI. He was thankful he didn't have to stay in that tube-thing too long. As fidgety as he could be after waiting in the doctor's office a few minutes, he congratulated himself that holding completely still for any length of time had been a major accomplishment.
"He's doing it again, Amanda," he said, drumming his fingers on the arms of his chair. "Why is it you always, always have to wait in the doctor's office?" he asked in frustration, just as the door opened behind them.
"I am so sorry, Mr. Stetson. . .Mrs. Stetson," Dr. Samad apologized, bowing his head to each of them in turn as he rounded the large mahogany desk and seated himself. "I realize that both of you have very busy schedules." He put on his reading glasses and opened Lee's file, now a good two inches thick, before continuing to speak. "Mr. Stetson. . .I will come directly to the point. You see, your tests have established that there is a large mass, most likely a brain tumor, located in the area of the cerebrum, and that the intracranial pressure from the mass itself or from associated edema may be pressing against your optic nerves." He looked up from the file as he continued, "This would explain the visual effects you have experienced of late. Now, Mr. Stetson, I have written you a referral to a neurosurgeon on staff with the N.E.S.T. team, Dr. Jacob Gottlieb, an excellent surgeon." Dr. Samad reached across the desk to hand Lee Dr. Gottlieb's card, but when Lee didn't respond or attempt to accept the card, he stood up and came around to stand beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder as he laid the card down on the desktop. "I understand completely, Mr. Stetson. Dr. Gottlieb will take very good care of you—have no fear. Now, I really must attend to my other patients, but please. . .take as long as you wish here. There is no rush," he said quietly, nodding to Lee and then to Amanda before leaving the office and closing the door behind him.
At the words 'brain tumor', Lee had stopped listening. He closed his eyes tightly, and he could feel his heart pounding against his ribs as his hands held the chair's arms in a death-grip. The fear he'd held in check until now churned in his mind. He flinched at Amanda's gentle touch on his arm, and looked up in shock to see that the doctor had left the room. Blinking his eyes a few times and shaking his head in a vain attempt to clear it of all the disturbing thoughts, he finally turned his gaze on Amanda. "What the. . .oh. I'm sorry Amanda. What were you saying?"
"Lee," she began quietly, taking his hand in hers and gently stroking his arm. "Let's take this one step at a time, all right?" she suggested, her comforting tone hiding her own anxieties. "Dr. Samad has referred you to a surgeon, Dr. Gottlieb there," she said, indicating the card. "He said Dr. Gottlieb was very good. If you want, I'll talk to the receptionist and set up the appointment for you."
"No, no, that's all right," he said, shaking his head slightly and gaining a modicum of control over his emotions. "I'll be all right," he said with a slight nod. He continued to hold her hand as he stood up from the chair, saying, "Come on, let's go."
Amanda went with him silently as he made the appointment with the surgeon for the following afternoon. She kept reminding herself of the wise advice she'd offered, 'One step at a time, Amanda, one step at a time. Okay, so maybe it's a brain tumor, but that doesn't mean. . .necessarily. . .one step at a time, Amanda, one step at a time.'
TO BE CONTINUED
