Thank you so much for the reviews! I have to say that this chapter is heavily influenced by the episode "Happy Birthday" in season one.
8
"Ah!" Matthew gasped in pain.
Michaela looked up at him apologetically; she looked back at his wrist in her hands, it was bruised and swollen.
"Matthew, on earth did this happen?" Charlotte stood at her son's shoulder, watching the doctor as she, as gently as possible, looked at his wrist.
"Horse spooked; I tried t' help Robert E calm it, but my wrist got caught in the reins; got jerked real good." He winced as Michaela moved his wrist a little.
Michaela sighed she glanced at Colleen, who was standing next to her, to whom Michaela had been commenting on the injury to. "Colleen, could you get me a cloth for a sling from the bottom drawer?" Colleen eagerly nodded and hurried over to do as the doctor had asked.
Colleen had begged to be allowed to assist Michaela and after Charlotte had agreed, quite happily, the girl had, every afternoon after school, begun to help Michaela with her practice.
Michaela turned back to Matthew. "You didn't break it, but it is badly sprained." Colleen returned and held the cloth out to Michaela, but she shook her head. "How would you like to try?" Colleen's eyes went wide and nodded. Michaela instructed her in how to properly set the arm in a sling. "I want you to keep your arm in a sling and I to rest it. Now, promise me you won't use it until I say you can."
Matthew groaned. "Dr. Mikeā¦"
"If you don't do what I tell you to you may permanently damage your wrist and it will definitely prolong the healing, it will take longer to get better."
Matthew groaned, but nodded. "I promise."
Colleen giggled.
Charlotte smiled at her friend. "I'll make sure he keeps that promise." She then helped her elder son from the examination table, Sully and Robert E had made it together for her.
There was a loud pounding from the door downstairs; Charlotte glanced in its direction, she gave Michaela a wry smile before leading Matthew out and going to answer it.
Michaela looked over at Colleen with a smile. "Would you like to help me cut up the new sheet of cloth into bandages?"
Colleen nodded. "Yes!"
Michaela laughed and retrieved it from where it was sitting along with two pairs of scissors.
"Dr. Mike!"
They both looked up at the cry; they could hear feet pounding up the stairs. Michaela went to the door; Colleen right behind her.
Charlotte was leading Mrs. Isaacs toward them. Mr. Isaacs was leaning heavily on his wife.
"What's wrong?" Michaela helped them get Mr. Isaacs on the bed.
"Ain't nothin' wrong with me," the man muttered.
"Stop bein' so stubborn John! I don't care what Jake says. You're gettin' worse." Mrs. Isaacs turned to Michaela. "Couple'a days ago John came home with that cut on his neck. I thought it looked bad, but Jake told John that it was fine. He was feelin' poorly the next day, but he wouldn' let me take him to ya until today and he is so much worse now!"
Michaela studied the wound on his neck that was badly infected; she glanced at her patient. "How did you get this?"
"Jake jus' nicked me when he gave me a shave."
Michaela clenched her jaw. "The razor must have been dirty." She took a deep breath before looking at both Isaacs. "You have septicemia."
Mrs. Isaacs looked confused; John gave a sigh of frustration. "What does that mean?"
Michaela swallowed. "Blood poisoning."
"He poisoned me!" He tried to get up.
"Mr. Isaacs! You mustn't move!" Michaela kept him on the bed. "Please."
Finally he relented and just lay down.
Michaela looked to Colleen. "Colleen, could you make sure that Mr. Isaacs is comfortable in bed?" The girl nodded and set about getting the man well covered.
Michaela drew Mrs. Isaacs aside.
Mrs. Isaacs seemed to read Michaela's expression. "He ain't gonna make it, is he?"
Michaela bit her lip. "I'm afraid not."
Mrs. Isaacs lowered her trembling lips to her clasped hands; she raised her head again to look at the doctor. "Can I stay with him, Doc?"
Michaela swallowed and nodded. "Of course; I am going to give him something to help ease the pain."
Mrs. Isaacs nodded; she reached out and squeezed Michaela's hand. "Thank you." She went to her husband's side.
Michaela's head dropped and she clenched her fists; then she took a deep breath, bracing herself, and went to get the morphine for the dying man.
8
Mr. Isaacs passed away a few hours later. Almost immediately Michaela stormed out of the boardinghouse and over to Jake's barbershop. Jake was giving Mr. Jenkins a shave when she stormed it. She snatched the razor from his hand as he was about to lower it to Mr. Jenkins' neck.
"Have you sterilized this?" Michaela demanded, holding the razor up in front of his face.
Jake grabbed it back, blew on it and wiped it off. "There, it's sterile." He got ready to continue shaving.
"I have told you a dozen times that you need to properly sterilize that."
"Oh, nothin's wrong with that razor; Jake's been shavin' people for years; no one's complained," Loren groused.
"Well, Mr. Isaacs would, except he is dead."
There were gasps.
"John's dead!" Loren looked at her in shock.
Jake was frozen in place, staring at her.
"Blood poisoning, because of that filthy thing." Michaela glared at the razor that was still in Jake's hand. She then turned and stormed out again.
Mr. Jenkins got up from the chair and left; the men who were waiting also left, until only Jake and Loren were left.
8
Jake was found unconscious on the floor of his shop; Michaela had to pump his stomach; he then had to go through DTs, several of the men helped hold him down through this. Michaela sent Loren to dump out all of Jake's alcohol.
Eventually Jake got through the DTs and was restlessly pacing the room when Michaela came in.
"How are you feeling?"
"Better, much better." He was wringing his hands slightly. "Uh, do ya have any whiskey?"
Michaela looked at him levelly. "No."
Jake looked somewhat desperate. "Do ya have any alcohol at all?"
She shook her head. "It's not what you need, Jake."
"Yes I do!"
"Jake, it won't make things better."
"It's what I want!"
Michaela swallowed, wishing she could keep him shut up; she had actually discussed this with Charlotte, Sully and Abigail, but had realized that they had no right to keep him locked up. She stepped aside, letting him out of the room. Jake all but ran out.
Michaela followed him out; he began to cross the street to his shop.
"DR. MIKE!"
Michaela spun around to see Robert E racing toward her on his wagon; she ran out to meet him in the street.
"What is it Robert E?"
Many of the people, including Jake had stopped to listen; due to the commotion Charlotte and the children had come out.
Robert E was frantic. "Ya gotta come quick, Abigail's hurt."
8
I am evil, I know. The next part will be out really soon though! I promise.
