GH 2018 presents The Drakes; #003

Pieces of the Future

Berkeley General Hospital

Situated in the middle of the city, and only three miles from the famed University of Berkeley, Berkeley Hospital had carved out a well- respected reputation as well…

Dr. Patrick Drake's first full day back on the job (after recuperating for several months from a gunshot wound) was nearing the end of a ten-hour day as he made his way down a corridor.

He had hoped it would have been an easy first day back, just touching bases with everyone, as well as his patient load, but of course life had another plan.

Holding a file containing an x-ray, he came to the office door of his good friend Dr. Raymond Croft.

The door to Raymond's was opened, and just as expected, Patrick found Ray (which everyone called Raymond) standing at his desk and looking down at the Sao Bernardo. Ray was in his late 50s, with a long mane of hair that went halfway down his back; which he kept in a tight ponytail.

The Sao Bernardo had oncesailed the seas off the coast of Argentina in the late 1500s; a 21-gun Spanish galleon that had earned quite a legend in world naval history. And Ray had been, for nearly two years, painstakingly building a wooden model of the famed craft (2000 pieces), which was 1/90th scale.

Patrick had learned in the past not to say anything while Ray was about to place a piece (using special glue for wooden models), and that was what he was doing as Patrick watched. The slightest distraction could cause him to drop the piece; and being so flimsy it could break.

Ray delicately placed the piece, using tweezers, and then he stepped back.

"I think Noah (Patrick's one-year old son) will be starting his freshman year at Berkeley," Patrick said with humor in his voice as Ray stepped back, "when you finally finish building that thing."

Ray stood up straight and looked over at Patrick the doorway of his office.

"Hey, don't forget," Ray said to Patrick, "I'm doing this for your son. It will be worth several thousand dollars by that time and I'll sell it and contribute what I get from the sell to his college fund."

Patrick shook his head side to side.

"I can only imagine what a college degree will cost by that time," Patrick came back with, knowing it would cost a pretty penny in the future. "Hey," Patrick said, holding up the file, "Could you look at this?"

Patrick handed Ray the x-ray. As usual, in such cases, the patient's name and biographical information was not included, so as not to cloud the judgment and opinion of the other doctor.

Ray held the x-ray up toward the light on the ceiling so as to get a better look. He could tell right off that the x-ray was that of a child; no doubt one of Patrick's patients.

"Terminal," Ray said, with a slight tone of remorse in his words; "How old?"

Patrick took the x-ray back.

"A two-year old boy," Patrick said softly. "Chemo isn't working and the mother…"

Ray went back to his model and used his tweezers to pick up the next piece. Being in his late 50s, he had learned many years ago to just turn the page, inside of his mind, when matters such as these came up. Patrick had not yet gotten there.

"Just let it go," Ray said as he looked at the wooden piece as he dabbed a swath of glue from a small plastic applicator.

Patrick leaned against the door frame he was standing in and nodded his head.

"I hate this part," Patrick said as he put the x-ray back into the file.

"That is why," Ray continued as he placed the wooden piece near one of the sails on the wooden model, "we don't put the names on the x-rays when we ask for second opinions. It only invites us to get involved, emotionally involved, with even more patients."

Of course, Patrick already knew this. In the past, the patient's biographical information was shared readily; but research in the high suicide rates in the medical profession had swayed most medical establishments, like Berkeley Memorial Hospital, to construct an abstract wall to distance doctors from patients that were not the own.

"I know…" Patrick replied.

"Oh, by the way," Raymond said, "I saw Robin earlier. She told me that she had picked up another consulting job with the Berkeley Police Department.

"This is the first I've heard of it," Patrick responded with a dismissive tone. "I haven't seen her since this morning."

Ray could since a tone of annoyance in Patrick's voice.

"Hey; I know its extra work for her, and it's a drain on the time the two of you get to share with each other and your kids." Ray said as he stood up from the model and looked at Patrick. "But think of it as her own Spanish Galleon for Noah's and Emma's futures; and I bet it pays much more than this," he added, pointing at the Sao Bernardo.

Patrick smiled and nodded his head; getting the point his friend had just made.

Continued…next time; Robin's observations puts her in danger.

This issue featured;

Jason Thompson as Patrick Drake

and William Fichtner as Dr. Raymond Croft