Chapter Twenty
For the next two weeks Liam started getting used to walking about around the condo and also around the Diagnostics Department. However, it still was a work in progress meaning that the young toddler couldn't stand for long periods of time and usually would crawl around the floor. The new mobile skills their son developed kept Chase and Cameron on their feet making sure that their only child didn't go wondering off unexpectedly. Cameron arrived early Wednesday morning to do a few hours of clinic duty for extra money while Chase had an early morning surgery to perform. Of course she had Liam in toll with her though there were times either one of them found it difficult doing their down while they brought their son to work. House didn't have any cases this week so she assigned herself to work in the ER for the week and do some of House's clinic hours for a bit of extra time.
The reason for the need of extra overtime is because of the notices she got in the mail for various collection agencies for a few outstanding bills she neglected to pay the full amount for. It was a grim reality and Cameron felt guilty that Chase was helping her clean up her financial mess that she got herself into. Money was tight, raising a child was also a lot of hard work and trying to balance a career and family always became an everyday challenge. Cuddy came into the examination room while Cameron finished up with a patient and surprised to find her in the clinic. However, it count as a blessing from letting Liam make another attempted getaway.
"Oh hey there little guy are you trying to attempt another getaway?" Cameron smiles watching Cuddy pick up Liam up from the floor, the baby just stared wide eyed at the Dean of Medicine.
"Ever since he learned the joys of walking he's been looking for an escape route to explore this hospital." Cameron added retrieving her son. "Is there a reason why you're here?"
"I should probably ask you the same thing," Cuddy said questionably. She had a couple of folders and documents in her possession and it was easy to spot Cameron in the hospital these days working in areas that she wasn't designated to. As long as anyone spotted Liam's presence nearby is where they could find Cameron or Chase for that matter. "Usually the schedule states that House is suppose to be doing clinic hours at this time unless otherwise."
"House said I could do his clinic hours for extra overtime since we know he likes to avoid doing clinic duty." Cameron admits. "Besides, I haven't did much of my clinic hours so I thought I repay them back."
"That's what I want to talk to you about." Cuddy replied as she shut the door. "So I came back from a meeting with the Board of Directors of the hospital and they're concern about the excessive overtime hours some of the employees are putting. On average some of resident doctors are putting in 105 hours a week. However, the board is mandating a regulation policy stating that no employed doctor at this hospital can't work more than 80 hours a week. HR pulled out a list of people who are working excessive overtime and going over the 80 hour a week work policy. Half the doctors are ranking in between 90-120 hours a week which doesn't suit well with the Board so in accordance with HR I need to start sending people home who are exceeding the 80 hour a week policy starting next month and unfortunately you and Chase are on that list. The both of you are piling within 115 hours a week."
"Wow they must be nailing you for...oh I see that means no extra overtime on the weekends for us?" Cameron said, picking up on what Cuddy is saying. "Okay so where does this apply because both Chase and I work in other departments besides Diagnostics. I'm the Senior Attending of ER and my husband is Head of Surgery. Are you trying to imply to us that we somehow allocate our time as long as we don't exceed 80 hours?"
"You two still get paid at the salaries you started at since the beginning it's just the challenge of allocating your time wisely without getting busted." Cuddy added. "You don't look amused by the new policy don't you? I understand I had about twenty doctors I personally had to talk to who find it unjust that they can't work much overtime as they used to. I'm not going to send you home today but I want to advise you that you and Chase can't go over the 80 hour a week limit."
"Yeah I think I can live with that as long as you find a way to explain to me how I'm going to payoff my debts without exceeding the new work week policy?" Cameron questioned, holding a fussy Liam.
"Let me guess financial problems again?" Cuddy asked, showing some concern towards Cameron. "I'm not asking as your boss, but as a friend Allison. How bad is it?''
"First it was over sixteen thousand dollars worth of personal debts I left behind in Chicago, but frankly I lost track because one day I payoff one debt and I come out with another outstanding debt." Cameron sighed. "That's why I need the extra overtime and now since I only can work 80 hours a week how am I suppose to payoff all of this? We bring our son to work because we can't really pay for a nanny, my relationship with my parents is still in question even though they talk to me from time to time asking me about Liam, and my insurance policy lapsed and the insurance company is only paying about thirty percent of my son's liver transplant surgery. I have to come up with the other seventy percent of $523 400 for a surgery that technically could make me go bankrupt personally. Whatever I earn per pay cheque goes to some bill I need to empty from my mountain pile debt and don't even try to ask me if I had any money saved up after I lost my job at Children's Memorial because that went to paying off my settlement against the Groffs and my lawyer."
"I'm sorry to hear and I know the deposition was hard for you and damaged your career reputation. Whatever reasons they had for termination shouldn't make you question your ability as a doctor. I will personally find a way to renew your insurance policy with the hospital so you won't have to pay much and I know it's a struggle raising him. You're lucky that your son is still alive and he's been responding well to treatment and the medicine since the surgery for months Allison. You have Robert to help you out and knowing him he won't leave you."
"It sucks that when we remarried and he had to inherit my debts along with it too. We should focus on trying to financially save up for our son's future instead how can we if I have this thing looming over our head? Chase tells me everything will be okay I want to believe him but at the same time I don't want to burden him. I love him and he's my husband but I feel guilty that he too also has to sacrifice his hard earn money to get me out of the hole."
"But he wants to be apart of that burden and you should believe him because he's your husband." Cuddy assured her. "You're very selfless and you care about others it shouldn't scare you that you have someone who wants to look out for your best interest. On the other hand, I could thank you two for starting this whole movement of bringing your kid to work. Apparently the Board approved to fund the Budget Committee's new venture on building a daycare here at the hospital. You know that wing under construction on the main level? It's going to be done within eight to twelve weeks and two Princeton is need of a site for the Early Childhood Education students to do their co-op hours. Overall, in the end this serves as a benefit for most of the employees to have an on site daycare at work for their kids."
"That seems pretty amazing...what's it going to cost?" Cameron questioned.
"It's pro bono for employees as of this moment unless otherwise by the Budget Committee." Cuddy answered looking at Liam. "This will benefit you specifically Allison and trust me when I say Liam will be safe. Chase told me about what happened the last time Liam was left at a daycare and it could explain the rational fear of leaving Liam in the care of others. I know you two love your son and are overly protective of him after the ordeal he went through six months ago. However, as doctors you also have obligations to the patients and it becomes a challenge when your both your professional and personal life collide head to head."
"I know and you're right...I got to be able to trust others to look after Liam when we can't." Cameron answered. "The hospital daycare thing it seems like a good idea. So you're giving advice from one parent to another?"
"You could say that and Cameron we'll figure out something with your insurance and payment for Liam's liver transplant operation. I don't understand why the insurance company is only covering for only thirty percent of the surgery and making you pay the outstanding seventy percent. Right now I'm relieving you of clinic duty and I will surely make sure House makes his way down here because that man owes me clinic hours which I want done. Don't forget the inventory report for ER supplies in stock it's due today."
"I'm right on it," Cameron replied walking out of the clinic with Liam in toll. "Don't worry I'm not exceeding your 80 hour a week limit."
"I neglected to tell you that doesn't come into effect until the first week of June." Cuddy replied as Cameron smiled slightly and rolled her eyes.
Cameron spent the remainder of the day caring for Liam while she did her monthly inventory supply report for the ER. She found it odd that the ER was short supplied on a few cases of medical supplies, in particular syringes that they used to administer treatment with. She assumed that it was just an error in the billing invoice that they messed up the order. At least today there was some action going on in the ER instead of spending her the rest of the day in the midst of paperwork and monthly expenses and budget reports. Luckily for some of the nurses on staff in the ER voluntary took turns looking after Liam while Cameron tended to some patients.
Meanwhile, it has been surgery after surgery for Chase. The main topic in the OR among the other doctors was the whole announcement about the 80 hour a week policy starting next month. However, for Chase it meant no more overtime and even problems for him to help Cameron out. He couldn't afford to lose out on overtime not when his wife needed it because the insurance company decided to screw her over and not cover half the cost of Liam's liver transplant surgery. They just couldn't get a break and it was incredibly frustrating to assure her that they'll be alright. They had money to pay for rent, for food, any bills that they could pay and the necessities needed for Liam. However, it was a question of how long they could get by until the situation becomes dire and they find themselves not able to clear off Cameron's debts.
Chase spent the entire day assisting on an exploratory surgery after Jenny brought a few scans from Radiology in regards to a patient named Mia Evans. She gave him the brief details about Mia Evans, a twenty five year old recent law student graduate who was diagnosed with Metatastic Melanoma eight months ago. However, upon learning from Jenny that Mia's condition has reached stage three and that the disease has spread to her liver, skin and most recently her brain. According to the scans that Jenny took Mia had two temporal lobe tumor in her brain that caused her patient's hallucinations. They already had one temporal lobe tumor removed but a few days ago Neurology noticed the presence of another tumor that the MRI couldn't pick up due to the tiny size.
"Okay so here's the good news and here's the bad news." Chase announced to Jenny. "The good news is we were able to locate the other temporal lobe tumor based on the the latest scans you provided and according to the EEG report we found the part of the brain that is hallucinating. It's definitely a tumor."
"So what seems to be the problem then?" Jenny asked.
"The temporal lobe tumor is located on the hippocampus of the brain after I asked Dr. Foreman to confirm the location. You understand that the tumor is too small to operate on and if we operate to remove the hippocampus we could do serious damage to Mia. It will damage her memory and speech or either the surgery could leave her in a vegetative state or it can kill her."
"What do you expect me to tell my patient?" Jenny asked defensively. "That the tumor that is causing you to hallucinate your dead grandfather can't be operated on because we're going to fuck her your memory? This girl is only twenty five years old and doesn't want to die. How do you expect me to tell her that the chances she gets this surgery it could kill her?"
"What about shrinking the tumor with IL2 we cut into her brain there will be no chance this woman will ever become a lawyer." Chase protested as they took the argument outside the OR.
"The tumor is systematic and she's already hallucinating. If we don't do something the tumor could kill her faster." It was evident that Jenny was going through another withdrawal episode due to the trembling and sweating purposely. He couldn't tell whether if Jenny was thinking straight right or she was out of her mind and not aware of what she was saying. Chase knew she wasn't medically thinking clearly and somewhere in her mind she was aware of the gloomy outcome for Mia Evan's life.
"You are proposing that we operate and cut out the part of her brain that makes Mia Evans who she is. Do you want to risk compromising this patient's memory and more importantly her life? Even if you do a WADA test how much of a degree will you cause permanent brain damage to the patient? You're a freaking Radiologist and you know I'm right...she can't have the surgery. And evidently I know when you're not thinking straight because you're shaking like a leaf and sweating like a pig and I've been around addicts long enough to know withdrawal symptoms."
"Don't bring that up here in the hospital!" Jenny snapped, applaud at being accused for taking drugs. "I just...am not feeling well and it's just an off day I'm having that's all."
"Let me guess an entire week without any smack in your system?" Chase eyed her cautiously. "You're obviously out of your mind and you can't think straight. I'm suggesting in a clear consensus that you keep away from the patient until you can get over your withdrawal symptoms. I've seen what you're like when you go through a period of withdrawal and for the patient's sake do not talk to her about the possibility of cutting out her hippocampus."
"I'm one of her attending physicians so you can't tell me what to do." She argued.
"You know I could tell everyone in your department what you do for a living and I'm thinking not one doctor here in this hospital knows what you do on your off days. I will forward the information to Oncology and to Dr. Wilson and ask Dr. Foreman for a consult on how to proceed with Miss Evan's treatment...Dr. McKessie." Chase addressed her sternly as they spotted another surgeon scrubbing in for surgery. "Clearly you're not competent enough to be treating her for the rest of the day. If you want a suggestion from one colleague to another go home for the day and get yourself straightened up. I know you have your days and sometimes I'm afraid to be near you because you're very irrational."
"Hey at least I'm able to look after myself financially and get my priorities straight unlike you!" She suddenly snapped back. "Instead of worrying about whether or not I'm surviving a day of withdrawal how about minding your own business and looking after that wife of yours. Remember, the one you promised to take care of and make all her problems go away. How's that going by the way? You see the difference between you and me is that I'm set and I act and do what I have to do to get by everyday while you're just talk and no action. If you want to help your wife's problems go away do something about it, whatever it takes."
"Well at least I have proper responsibilities and I don't spend my weekends high as a kite." Chase snapped. "You should be the one talking about financial responsibility and independence. To think I spent all that time with you watching you self-destruct and hit the low point you refuse to accept responsibility and get help. The best thing you did for me was show me the light and just how idiotic I was to use you as an adrenaline rush. If I'm going to help out my wife I do it the honest way and do right by her."
"That's really great to know because I was already aware of that. I must give you an applause for telling me that I will be nothing more to you than an adrenaline rush you need when you hit the low point. Sometimes rules are meant to be broken and sometimes you have lie, cheat and steal to get where you want to get to Dr. Chase. "
"Clearly you're the wrong person on this day to be preaching about helping others when you can't even accept help from others." Chase grunted, he knew exactly how his conversations turned out on the days Jenny went through intense drug withdrawals. "Well...at least I have someone in my life and a purpose to turn my life around. You know who said that to me? You did when you told me that going out with you will be a mistake because my heart belonged to someone else. Sometimes I feel sorry for you because you don't know what you're missing out on. If you could turn your life around maybe there will someone who will love you."
"That's what they all said before." She sneered, rubbing her eyes. "I know you love Cameron but if you can't keep promises that you can't keep what happens then? Sometimes love isn't enough to make all your problems go away Dr. Chase. The reality is the world can be a cruel place for anyone and if you don't have your priorities straight what then? You can keep talking and making promises but sooner or later all those promises will fall empty handed if you don't fulfill them by all means."
"Now why would I believe anything you say right now?" Chase asked.
"Because I'm not all messed up as you think I am but you know that a promise is not honored unless you fall through with it." Jenny said leaving the OR hallway. That woman hit a nerve in him, the doubt he tried to push in the back of his mind questioning his commitment to Cameron. Jenny's words got to him but at the same time he didn't know whether to believer her or not. After all, she was going through a withdrawal episode but somehow she was getting the best of him. Unnoticed to her, she accidentally left her pager outside the prep station. He couldn't stop her as she was already out the door. Reluctantly, Chase took Jenny's pager and ended up placing it in his pocket.
By the time he finished up with Mia Evans and let Oncology deal with her Chase went off to find Cameron. Spending his entire day doing surgery and with no new cases he had to contend and deal with Jenny. Talking and conversing with her sometimes he never had an idea of which personality of Dr. Jenny McKessie he interacted with today. Of all days, he was force to work with her on the days she was suffering from withdrawal from heroin. Chase had animosity towards addicts and that ill feeling and experience traced back to his mother. It was frustrating to have a normal conversation with someone who was suffering from withdrawal, but Chase had a feeling by next week Jenny will be high as a kite.
Despite not being around her much these days, he kept track of everything Jenny was up to through word on the street and friends in town. He had this thought in his mind that the woman experimented with other drugs but heroin was her favorite choice of drug. However, she managed to take a jab at him verbally earlier by questioning his ability to look after Cameron and Liam. She had a point and although illegally she found a way to support herself financially and provide somewhat of a stable home life for herself, Chase on the other hand started finding himself in a bind. He headed to the doctor's lounge and smiled when he found Cameron asleep on the couch with their son lying down next to her.
"Hey babe what time is it?" Cameron yawned, she carefully sat up quietly trying not to wake up Liam who was still fast asleep in his mother's arms.
"It's a little after six o'clock. I'm sorry I disturbed you." Chase smiled taking a seat on the couch next to her. "He's fast asleep."
"Our son has been keeping me on my toes the whole day." She replied resting her head on Chase's shoulder. Between looking after Liam and doing her job sometimes it was taxing and draining for them. "Spent the day doing inventory reports; budget and monthly expenses reports in the ER; a few clinic hours; and of course treating a few ER patients on the side. I'm just trying to work as much hours as I can before that new eighty hour a week work policy comes into play next month."
"Let me guess Cuddy talked to you?" Chase asked. "Don't worry babe you're in the same vote as me and she told me we both ranked up 115 hours which is considered excessive overtime."
"The Board is only doing this due to the fact that they think we as doctors are suffering from fatigue and are abusing too much of our overtime." Cameron added trying to keep her voice down. "This was what everyone kept talking about the whole day in the ER and how since we're getting our hours cut the nurses now have to compensate and work double hours than we do."
"Everyone is throwing their two cents saying that this is stupid. Dr Stewart threw a scalpel against the observation window when Cuddy told him that he wasn't getting paid for overtime next month." Chase quietly grinned. "He went all mental Monty on Cuddy and then she threatened to sign him up for anger management if he continued."
"Dr. Stewart is known as a drama king." She slightly giggled at Chase's remarks. "The guy literally blew his top off in front of Cuddy it should give her reason to have him placed in anger management classes. You looked wiped babe. Anything new happen today?"
"Got into a heated argument with one of our resident radiologist Dr. McKessie over a patient. Did an exploratory brain biopsy on this oncology patient named Mia Evans. Radiology did a scan of her brain and this young woman, a recent law student graduate has Stage Three Metatastic Melanoma. It's spread to her skin, liver and most recently her brain. She's undergoing IL2 treatment and she had a temporal lobe tumor removed from her brain. A few days ago an EEG was done on the patient because her hallucinations started again and they found another temporal lobe tumor in her brain. It was tiny so MRI couldn't detect it. Unfortunately, the other temporal lobe tumor they found was located near her hippocampus. That's when things got ugly because the patient wants this surgery."
"You mean the part of her brain...that basically makes her who she is." Cameron sighed looking at him as he nodded. "If she consents there's a risk her memory could be severely damaged if they remove the hippocampus right? She's twenty five and I can understand that she doesn't want to die what seems to be the problem?"
"Dr. McKessie and I got into an argument and debated whether or not to tell the patient that her second temporal lobe tumor in her brain is right in the center of her hippocampus." Chase sighed. "The tumor is systematic and she's already at Stage Three Metatastic Melanoma. Dr. McKessie wanted to persuade the patient to go through with this surgery. In all fairness by removing her hippocampus her memory will be severely compromised or she could end up in a vegetative state. Even worse, she could die on the operating table. It was a thirty minute debate we had and I couldn't let her talk to the patient because she was going to a massive heroin withdrawal. Clearly her mind was out of it and she wasn't thinking straight and..."
"Babe calm down or else you're going to wake up our little boy." Cameron smiled placing a hand on his shoulder. They had their days at work where stress got the best of them, but hearing Cameron's smoothing voice put his mind at ease. "Two words: rough day?"
"Really rough day...pretty much a pissed off day and wanted to punch out the wall." Chase softly replied, stroking Liam's hair. "How about you? Rough day also?"
"Just a lot of paperwork and oh yeah a little cheesed off at the fact we're limited to working eighty hours a week starting next month. Also receiving that call from the insurance company saying I need to pay for Liam's liver transplant surgery that they're only covering thirty percent of I could say I had a pretty pissed off day too." Cameron sarcastically said emphasizing the words "pissed off." However, it didn't stop her from smiling and even if their day didn't go well at work they had the comfort to find something to make it not so awful. "Oh on a side note Cuddy told me that the Board is funding the budget committee's new project on building an on site daycare at the hospital for patients and employees. It's pro bono for employees according to Cuddy so within the next eight to twelve weeks once they get this new venture up...I think our boy is ready for daycare."
"Are you sure about that?" Chase asked questionably.
"As much as we love dragging him around our respective areas of work and the staff has a soft spot for this little guy." Cameron added. "We got to give others the chance to look after him for the day. It gets difficult when two lives collide doesn't it?"
"You do have a point...he's just a baby he'll probably not have a slight idea what we're doing during the day." Chase grinned giving her a kiss. "Are you sure you'll be okay...with everything going on?"
"Robert we had a crappy day just sitting here and seeing you doesn't it make it so bad." She smiled back at him. "We'll...be okay I know we will because you always promise that and I will believe you on your word."
Even when sometimes the workday didn't turnout the way it seems somehow it was the little things that ensured Chase that it wasn't all bad. He didn't want to think about his confrontation with Jenny about the wellbeing of Mia Evans. He didn't want to think the insecurity or question his inability to look after his family. Talking with Cameron about how their days went was one of the little things he cherished that helped him salvage the rest of the day for him. Cameron also had a bad day too but it didn't stop her from being optimistic and upbeat, in his sense it was their way to distract themselves from their day problems and just focus on the little things in life that brought joy to them, for now at the moment.