As Patrick suspected in advance, Shahir didn't appear in the next few month. Although he hoped for a long time, that the man will call him to come on for a dinner or at least for a coffee, but than he gave up. He would have liked to get to know Shahir better, but he didn't want to force anything. He didn't really know what would be the good solution in case of Shahir, so he was quiet embarassed when he dialed his number. But in that case he knew he didn't have any other choice. He would have needed Shahir's knowledge, or at least his oppinion, so he put everything else aside, and called him.
- Dr. Hamza – answered Shahir his phone.
- This is Dr. Curtis – introduced himself Patrick.
- Dr. Curtis! – wondered Shahir. – What can I do for you?
- First of all I would like to congratulate for your assignment, Dr. Hamza.
- You are suck up to me again – shook Shahir his head.
- And you don't believe me again. Why do you never believe me? I'm really happy.
- Okay, I believe you – gave in Shahir. – Although if you would ask my colleagues they wouldn't be so happy. They are grateful for the destiny, that my promotion is temporary. Dr. Bell will come back soon. But I suspect you don't call me only for this. What can I do for you, Dr. Curtis?
- I need your help, Dr. Hamza. I have a patient, I would like you to see.
- I don't think your bosses would be happy if I went there and tried to tell off your neurosurgeon colleague how to do his job - shook Shahir his head. – If I were them I wouldn't be happy either. Even I feel the absurdity of this situation.
- Our neurosurgeon here have given up the hope already without doing something. Just he don't know yet, how to tell a mother of a ten year old boy, that his child will paralize, because he don't dare to do anything with him – said Patrick angrily.– Dr. Hamza, please! Just check the scan results, and tell me what do you think!
- Okay – gave in Shahir. – Send it to me, I'll check it, and consider what we can do. But… I hope you didn't forget, that I will tell face to face, if it is hopeless. For you and for the parents as well.
- I know, Dr. Hamza. Just this honesty is what I'm waiting from you – blew out Patrick the air he releaved. He needed exactly this. That somebody give an honest and realistic picture, whitout worrying about his own carrier. And Shahir is definitely this kind of man. Straight, impiteously honest and don't care what people think about what he says. – I send you the results and call you back later.
- All right – gave in Shahir, although he had no idea, that beside his own huge amount of work how he will find some time to check the results. They said good bye, and he turned back to his own job, until he got the e-mail. Than he had only a minute because he was called to a patient, but in the middle of the afternoon he found some time to scrutinize it, and called Patrick back.
- So, his status is bad, but not entirely hopeless - informed him Shahir harshly.- The surgery is risky, but I reckon the fifty percent what I forecast for the succes, worth the risks.
- I hoped you say this – said Patrick relieved. – Than? Will you do the surgery?
- It's not so easy, Dr. Curtis. In an other hospital… if something goes wrong… it has got serious consequences.
- Dr. Hamza… I know that now… you have to think about the consequences as a manager too… but you are the last hope for this kid.
- Dr. Curtis, don't forget I don't really feel guilty, so this manipulation does't have affect on me – warned Patrick Shahir.
- But now I would do everything to affect you emotionally – puckered up Patrick his lips.
- Talk to your boss, Dr. Curtis. The boy isn't transportable, and we need his permission I can make an operation in your hospital. It won't be easy to convince him. He is also aware of the possible consequences. If you manage just text me, and I'll do it tomorrow.
- I'm very grateful, Dr. Hamza – smiled Patrick. – I'll text you – he promised and said good bye.
Shahir shook his head for a while, but after that his colleagues averted his attention, so he recognized Patrick's message when he started off home. The man managed somehow achieve the agreement of the other hospital's magager, so Shahir informed his colleagues that he won't be available on the next morning, and he went home.
On the next morning Patrick was waiting Shahir at the entrance of the hospital.
Dr. Hamza, good morning! – smiled at him and reached out his hand. – I'm happy to see you again – he said and his smile became wider, when Shahir shook his hand after a moment of hesitation.
- I'd like to speak with your boss before the surgery – said coming to the point Shahir seriously.
- I've have discussed it with him already. He agreed to the surgery – tried Patrick to reassured him, but Shahir shook his head.
- It's not so easy Dr. Curtis. If something happens it is his responsibility, and mine – protested Shahir assertively.
- All right - admitted Patrick. – But it is too early, he isn't in yet. Now let's visit Chris and his mother.
- Let's go – approve Shahir the plan, so they went up to the fourth floor, and went in to the room, but there was an other doctor already.
- Dr. Cole, What's happening here? – looked Patrick at him angrily.
- I'm informing Mrs. Winters about the situation – turned the man around and get surprised because of Shahir.
- You should have waited with this for a while. I asked Dr. Hamza to check the images.
- And he read out something else than me? I would be surprised.
- Dr. Cole… - tried to protest Patrick, but Shahir interupted him.
- Dr. Curtis! – stoped the other man, than he turned to Dr. Cole. – According to the CT results my oppinion is it would be worth it to try the surgery.
- Worth? You take the risk a lot of unnecesserily pain, the anesthesia, and there is hardly chance to achieve some improvement.
- I don't agree – protested Shahir. – The process is risky, but if we are careful enough…
- It's enough to make a tenth millimeter mistake – looked the doctor despisingly at Shahir.
- I don't make mistakes – shook Shahir his head, but the other man was fed up.
- We will see – he said than run away. Shahir looked at Patrick.
- He is going to the manager.
- I know. But don't worry, Dr. Hamza, I discussed everything with Dr. Peterson.
- Okay than – noded Shahir, but Mrs. Winters got bored not to know what is happening around her.
- What's going on, Dr. Curtis? – looked desperatedly from one of the doctors to the other.
- Mrs. Winters, this is Dr. Hamza. He is the best neurosurgeon in the whole country. I asked his oppinion about Chris.
- And?
- I reckon – continued Shahir – that if we risks the surgery, we give the boy fifty percent chance to recover, while wihtout the surgery it is ninetynine percent that he will be paralyzed.
- Oh, my God – sighed the woman and turned away from the two doctors and stared out of the window. Shahir would have like to say something, but Patrick signed him to be patient, so they were waiting quietly.
- All right, do the surgery – turned back the women a minute later.
- Are you sure? – asked Patrick.
- If there is any chance for Chriss to run and playing basketball again, I'd like to try it – looked Mrs. Winters at him, whereon Patrick smiled.
- All right – stroked Patrick the woman's arm, than he turned to Shahir.
- Would you assist me, Dr. Curtis? – asked Shahir.
- With pleasure – he noded, than he turned back to Mrs. Winters. – I make arrangements – he said than he walked away with Shahir. Patrick gave the nessecary orders to the nurses, who immediately set to work.
- Let's visit Dr. Peterson – he said finally so they walked up to the manager floor and knocked in to the manager's room.
Patrick introduce Shahirt to his boss, who was worrying for a while yet, but finally he gave his blessing to the surgery.
- A coffee before we go in? – asked Patrick, because he knew it will be a long surgery, where they will have to focus on his work very much.
- No, Dr. Curtis. Strictly one coffee after waking up. I make an exception very rarely. It doesn't make any good for you too.
- I see – smiled Patrick in front of himself. – Than… we scrub in?
- Yes – noded Shahir, so in a half an hour they were in the operating room, sitting on both side of the little patient who was sleeping deeply.
- What happened with the boy? – asked Shahir while he took the first cut and began the work carefully.
- He was playing basketball, was pushed over and he fell to the edge of the bench on the side of the court, with his back – informed Patrick, whereon Shahir shook his head, but Patrick continoued. – Not only bones but lifes can broken into parts in cases like this.
- We are here to prevent this, Dr. Curtis – glanced Shahir at him, whereon Patrick sighed.
- I know. I let you focus – he said, whereon Shahir glanced at him again, than he really focused on his work for a while, but finally he broke the silence.
- Dr. Curtis… thank you!
- For what? – looked up Patrick uncomprehendingly.
- For not rebuke me because of what I've promised.
- I didn't plan it – shook Patrick his head, who immediately knew what the other man thinking of. – But I will make you promise this time again, before you go.
- Okay - noded Shahir, than he worked on, and after that they limited their conversation for professional thing.
Finally, after another hour Shahir entrust closing the wound to Patrick, but he didn't left him alone, he observed him working until the last stitch.
- Nice work, Dr. Hamza – smiled Patrick at him, when they finished.
- We should wait with this – said Shahir. – He is not completely out of the woods yet. It needs time, until the succes became certain.
- I know.
- Continuously inform me, Dr. Curtis! – asked Shahir.
- Definitely I will – promised the other, and they walked out from the OR. – And thanks again for coming. I am very grateful. And I'm happy to meet you.
- I'm happy too, Dr. Curtis. But now I would change and go back to my work – mused Shahir.
- All right – gave in Patrick, so he waited at the desk as long as Shahir changed his clothes, than he see him off.
- We should celebrate the successful work together – he tried, but when he saw that Shahir knit the brows he knew there is no use.
- The board meetings usually last till late night, Dr. Curtis.
- I see – sighed Patrick. – Did you really want this?
- I can handle it – noded Shahir determined.
- I know. I didn't doubt it even for a moment. But you seriously wanted this? I bet you can't deal with your work… your real work as much as you would like to. Not to mention your private life.
I haven't really got privat life – shook Shahir his head. – And I have to go now. I'll have a surgery in the afternoon too, not to mention the lot of paperwork. Take care of our patient and if everything hapened call me!
- I will, Dr. Hamza! – promised Patrick one more time, and after they said good bye, he was looking after Shahir shaking his head, than he went to reassure the worrying mother, that the surgery went well.
On the next day, around evening Patrick called Shahir, who was about to go home after a long day full of meetings.
- How is Chris? – asked Shahir, when he answer the phone. He would have liked to hear good news, but after a surgery like this anything could happen.
- He is fine – reassured him Patrick. – The new CT result shows he will fully recover.
- Good. The rest is up to him - nodded Shahir.
- Dr. Hamza… now, when… the boy is out of the woods… do you feel like to celebrate?
- You won't give up, will you? – asked Shahir mused.
- I haven't got any chances? – asked Patrick back.
- It's not about this.
- And don't you feel like… maybe next to a glass of orange juice… discussing what is it about? I'll be there in a half an hour.
- I warn you, Dr. Curtis, I am very tired, so I'm not a good company, worse than at other times.
- It is something I have to decide – laughed Patrick. – I set off – he said, than they said good bey.
Shahir shook his head and mused about this whole thing for a while. Until now he could say for himself, that only he is, who misunderstand Patrick's behaviour, but this seems definitely a date. Shahir had fairly controversial feelings related this. On the one hand he found Dr. Curtis a handsome and attractive man, who's style can be a little bit too much for him, but he also knew that he can be nice and understanding in private, totally different than in public, but still there was something in the man what hold him back. He couldn't tell what is it, just a feeling, what he couldn't identify. It wasn't an unknown situation for him, that he can't disentangle his feeling, but that day he was too tired already to deal with. After twenty minutes he gave up the musing, he made up his desk and left his office.
For a while he stopped on the first floor, by the huge window, and took a look at the lights which were slowly lighting up, than he descended the stairs, and walked out to the street.
Patrick was just turn into the parking lot, so Shahir walked there and got in the car.
- I'm happy you finally accepted my invitation – smiled Patrik at him, while he started the engine. – Where should we go? Dinner maybe?
- I'm not hungry – shook Shahir his head.
- You have lost a lot of weight recently, Dr. Hamza – took Patrick a look at him.
- I haven't got enough time for eat.
- Than it's about time take time for it.
- I'm really not hungry – protested Shahir again, when the other took a deep breath and carefully touches his hand.
- I'm worried… about you – changed Patrick the style to a bit more direct, although he had no idea how will Shahir react, so he tried to scan his reactions beside the traffic.
- I know – admitted Shahir but finally he pulled away his hand, and just looked out through the side window. Patrick sighed, and after a minute, when he passed next to a park, he stopped the car to a parking lot on the side of the road.
- Shahir… would you tell me what's wrong? - asked Patrick carefully.
- I don't know – shook Shahir his head.
- You don't know or you can't tell it?
- Both – glance Shahir at Patrick.
- I see – sighed the man. – Can I help somehow?
- No. I had better… go home – said Shahir and wanted to get off of the car, but Patrick grab his arm. He feels Shahir got anxious because of this, so he released it.
- Don't go!
- I warned you I'm not a good company today – glanced Shahir at him.
- Okay, I let you go – gave in Patrick. – But let me bring you to the underground. Don't meander in this area alone at night.
- Okay – gave in Shahir, so they set off, but none of them said anything till Patrick stopped by the underground station.
- Shahir – turned towards the other man. – If you figure out what's wrong, will you call me and tell me? You don't have to draft it gently neither adorn it… just honestly into my face, like you always did, hm?
- If I figure it out I'll call you – promised Shahir, although Patrick saw on him that he only would like to escape, just sighed.
- All right than. Go home, and eat a proper diner, okay?
- Okay – nodded Shahir, than got off and set off towards the underground.