82 Blacktop Obsession
"Thank you for coming, Jeff." Carter opened the door, looking relieved to see the doctor and his nurse. This was the doctor Kaidyn had seen in LA, not the normal doctor she was used to seeing. He knew Shayde would have an issue with this not being the doctor she had sent for. Kaidyn's normal doctor was Jeff's father.
"I see you have acquired some new help. Do these boys know the drill?" the doctor asked. His family had been helping Carter and Shayde since way before Kaidyn was born. Jeff was on Carter's payroll as his personal doctor on call and Carter felt he was a better choice for a doctor than his father.
"Yeah, they all know what's up. Boys, this is Dr. Jeff Jefferson. He's Kaidyn's doctor." Carter introduced them. "I am glad you guys made it safely." Carter said, looking towards the living room. "That's his nurse and wife, Jordan." he pointed to the petite blonde nurse in blue scrubs. "Please go help her carry in some things." Carter ordered.
"I brought extra supplies and stuff in case we need them after we get back home." Dr. Jeff said, nodding.
"Great, we appreciate that. Just a fair warning, Shayde thinks your dad is going to be here. I have yet to break it to her that he is not coming." Carter warned.
"Everything okay?" He asked, noticing Carter's distracted concern.
"Not really. Kaidyn is on the verge of another flashback or panic attack. She's not taking to going to the hospital too well." Carter said, watching the monitor with a frown on his face.
"Yeah, that's all we need." Dr. Jeff said, rolling up his sleeves. "I am going to go in there and give her a cocktail to keep that from happening. It's something we use to help with pain and to help her relax. She looks pretty rough already." He said, looking at Jordan. Brian, Roman and Tej finished helping her carry in the supplies.
"You want all three meds, Jeff?" Jordan asked, opening a needle for an IV, wasting no time getting the medication ready.
"Yeah, give me about five minutes to get her to relax with me and then you can bring that stuff." He nodded, looking at Jordan. "I don't want to get her all worked up before we get to meet." he grinned.
"Good luck with her. She's not very good at listening. I appreciate your help." Carter shook Dr. Jeff's hand.
"No problem. I will do my best to get her to sleep quickly. We can talk about things going on later, once we get her relaxed." He nodded.
"Yes, I will call a house meeting when we get her situated and comfortable." Carter nodded, pouring himself a scotch. "That way we can make sure everyone is on the same page." Carter advised.
"Hey guys!" Dr. Jeff walked in the room, all smiles. "Hello, Shayde." He smiled.
"You're not your father." Shayde frowned, looking rather unsettled. She gave Carter a quick stare. He smiled at her from out of Kaidyn's view.
"Thanks for noticing." he gave her a big smile. "How's it going? Can I sit by you, Kaidyn?" he asked, trying to get her to look at him. "How are you feeling? Pretty rough, huh?" He asked, a smile on his face like always.
"I don't feel good but I don't think I need the hospital." She said, refusing to look at him. She started to breathe a little faster.
"Okay, good talk. Hey, for tomorrow I have to put in an IV so it will save us time. Can I just get that done and I will leave you alone?" Dr. Jeff asked, watching Shayde stare him down. He shifted uncomfortably. "Tough crowd tonight." He observed.
"No, I don't need it." Kaidyn said, feeling a bit dizzy when she looked at him. She started to breathe heavier. She looked at Shayde with panic. She looked around to ensure where she was. "Shayde, don't leave me. Please." She begged, feeling like she was going to pass out.
"You're okay." Han said, taking her hand. She shook her head no, breathing heavier and starting to sweat.
"You remember Jordan, right? Your favorite nurse? Can she put the IV in?" He asked, looking at her nose as he talked to her. "Yeah, it's pretty inflamed." he said, squinting as he looked at her.
"I don't want the IV. I don't need any meds." She looked at Jordan with the syringe. "I'm fine. I don't want to go night night." She said, shaking her head profusely, starting to try to get up. She began to fight to get up, sweating profusely.
"Where's Sprinkles? Is he around?" Jordan asked, combining another medicine in the syringe she had, getting her cocktail ready. "Hey Kaidyn, do you remember me?" Jordan asked, going to stand beside her.
"He's around." Kaidyn said, watching her. "I don't need any meds. I feel fine." Kaidyn lied, starting to gasp for air. She began to wheeze a bit and her cheeks became flushed, she grabbed Shayde's side and squeezed hard as she trembled.
"These aren't meds. This is just saline to flush it once I put it in." Jordan shrugged it off like it was no big deal. "Come on, Kaidyn, I have to do my job. Shayde can't pay me if I don't do the work." Jordan tried to joke. "I'll make it quick and painless." She promised, her southern accent thick.
"Why are you here?" Kaidyn looked at Dr. Jeff, her eyes narrowing. She rubbed her palms on her pants legs, trying to keep from panicking. She looked at Han, wide eyed.
"We just talked about this." Dr. Jeff looked concerned. "Can you follow my finger?" he asked, watching how she was able to track his finger. "How are you feeling, really, Kaidyn?" He asked.
"I am fine." Kaidyn said, shaking her head. "Get away from me." She scooted back, wincing from the pain of moving. She looked away, not wanting to look at him. "SHAYDE." She said, her voice shaking and hoarse.
"Give her a few minutes, Jeff. We were not expecting you." Shayde warned.
"Yeah, okay. No problem. I will just be over here doing what I do. I will just be over here, it's fine." Dr. Jeff nodded, holding up his hands while trying to keep her talking while Jordan felt for a vein. He decided that agreeing with her would be best so she didn't get worked up.
"Big stick." Jordan warned and started the IV.
"OWWWWW." Kaidyn tried to jerk but Han was quick enough to grab her arm. "That hurt!" She growled.
"It's over now." Dr. Jeff nodded, assuring Kaidyn as Jordan pushed the 'saline' in her veins. "Everything will be better from here, Kaidyn." He promised.
"Don't talk to me." Kaidyn turned her head away.
"You and I will become good friends. Don't worry, I am here to help you." He promised.
"I highly doubt this." Kaidyn said, her eyes rolling back in her head and the medicine overtaking her.
"Carter, we need to talk." Shayde said, clicking her teeth. She looked at Han. "Can you please hold her?" Shayde asked.
"Of course." Han promised. He took her from Shayde and sat down with her, wiping off her face and her forehead.
"Let's go to the other room, Carter. WE need to have a chat." Shayde said, her voice in a deep growl.
"What's wrong, Sweetheart?" Carter asked innocently, coming into the room now that Kaidyn was asleep and he could be in there.
"This is NOT the doctor we agreed on. I want his father, not him." Shayde said, not caring that everyone who was in the room was hearing this since he wanted to walk all the way into the room. Her anger was too bad to control it to hold her tongue at the moment. "I promised her that she would know this doctor." She folded her arms.
"She does know me. I saw her in California and I have helped my dad with her care before." the doctor said, shrugging.
"You need to stay your ass out of our conversation." Shayde warned, her hand reaching for her hip and to get a gun. Hector looked at Han and took Kaidyn from him so Han could go intervene if necessary.
"I am just saying, she knows me just fine." Jeff shrugged. "What's the big deal?" Jeff asked, a smirk on his face.
"Yes, but you only saw her once because you were closer and could get there quicker, Dr. Jefferson." Shayde said, her words icy. "The big deal is that you are NOT who I requested and I am her damn mother and I get the damn say." Shayde said, her hand pulling out the gun.
"Whoa. Shay. Deep breaths." Han warned, standing behind her. "Surgery is tomorrow and we don't have a way to wait much longer with how bad that nose is." He reminded her.
"Call me Jeff please and my dad is not practicing anymore so I am afraid you are stuck with me." Jeff shrugged.
"We need to take this outside." Carter said, coughing slightly and being uncomfortable. He did not like for others to see any disagreements with Shayde.
"Yes, let's take it outside so the blood from him does not get everywhere on the precious fucking decor in here." Shayde said, cocking back the gun and pointing at Jeff.
"Shayde Verone. WE will go outside and discuss this." Carter said, his arms folded and his smile an amused smile. He loved her temper.
"Fine." Shayde glared and stormed outside, letting the door slam.
"I will be right back. You guys stay in here." Carter said, excusing himself to follow her.
"Talk to me, Shayde. What's wrong, hmm? He's a doctor on my payroll. He's good. He's better than the older doctor you wanted. He's more updated. He can give her better care." Carter said, trying to put his arms around Shayde.
"I want his father who is on MY payroll. He's not retired. She's able to be at ease with my doctor. Clearly you could see she does not like Jeff." Shayde objected.
"Shayde, he is who we have and he is who is here. We are going to have to deal with this. Besides, his dad is much older." Carter reminded her.
"It's bullshit because he's not retired." She said, getting her phone out. "His dad delivered her and has been her doctor her whole damn life. Why the hell would you change that now?" Shayde asked, spinning her gun around and really fighting her urge to shoot him.
"Put it up and talk to me first." Carter said, his commanding voice a bit louder than he had meant to be. He knew she had impulse control issues when angered or stressed.
"Damn it, Carter. Don't push me." Shayde warned, shaking her head and backing away from him as he reached for the gun.
"She is 18. People get old and quit. She needs to grow up and realize change is part of life, Shayde." Carter said, looking at her. "She can't always have things her way. You can't protect her forever." He promised.
"Like hell I can't. Does the same go for you then?" She asked, staring him down.
"Shayde Verone, you do not want to do this right now." He warned, raising an eyebrow.
"OH, I think it's you who does not want to do this right now. Remember, I am the one who has protected you. What are you gonna do when I am the one who you need protecting from?" She asked, her hands on her hips, eyebrow cocked.
"I think this conversation needs to go to our room. We can cancel her surgery." Carter said, abruptly turning on his heel to walk away.
"You did this without consulting me. What did you expect? Me to be Mary Fucking Sunshine?" Shayde asked, her eyes narrowed.
"You know, she is our daughter. I do have the right to make some decisions." Carter said, pulling her into a hug even though she pulled back from him.
"We talked about this last night. You cannot and will not keep changing this without me knowing or talking to me. You might want to make up for the last eight years but doing it this way won't work, Carter Verone." She said in an angry huff.
"Come on, My Shayde, he's here, he's brought Jordan. Is this really worth fighting over? Kaidyn just needs time to warm up to him." Carter said, rocking her and holding her from behind. "You and Hector and even Han say she is slow to warm up to things, how is this any different, hmm?" He asked, holding her tighter as he spoke close to her ear.
"Carter…" Shayde warned, wanting to smack him right now.
"Come on, My Shayde, please just give him a chance. He's already got it scheduled." Carter kissed her neck. "Come on, put the gun down and let's help our daughter." He murmured. "Don't make me do anything drastic, Sweetheart. You know I would hate to do that." He promised.
"Sorry to interrupt but I need to talk to you both after looking her over." Dr. Jeff came out, looking concerned.
"Oh, you just assume you are staying I guess?" Shayde rolled her eyes, her arms folded. She felt defeated but she knew Kaidyn needed the surgery.
"Shayde, I know you don't know me as well as my dad and I know change can be hard, but I only have her best interest in mind. Why are you so upset with me?" Dr. Jeff asked, holding out his arms.
"Because I have Kaidyn's best interest at heart and she likes your father better." Shayde said, raising an eyebrow.
"She hasn't given him a chance, Sweetheart. We talked about this." Carter reminded her.
"Just tell me what needs to be done." Shayde said, shaking her head, clearly annoyed.
"She's going to need a cast on that arm and her fingers. Clearly we have to rebreak the nose and we will probably have to put her in a lace up shoe for where that vein almost got severed. She really did a number to herself." Dr. Jeff advised.
"That would be because of a decision two assholes made thinking they were doctors. So can you tell them how important medication is." Shayde muttered.
"We will have to watch those cuts for an infection. I can wipe her down with antiseptic better once she is under the anesthesia." He said. "I am really worried about her nose." He said.
"Wow, thank you Doctor Captain Obvious. Who knew the nose was bad?" Shayde hissed.
"Is this necessary? I am trying to help your kid." Dr. Jeff said, rolling his eyes.
"And I am trying to keep from killing you. Who has the harder job here, hmm?" Shayde asked, raising an eyebrow and folding her arms.
"Carter, I can't work under these conditions." Dr. Jeff admitted.
"Shayde…" Carter started.
"Can you work at all? Aren't you a doctor trained in high stress situations? Do you have the right training?" Shayde asked, examining her gun as she looked at Dr. Jeff.
"Shayde, I am trying." Dr. Jeff started.
"Try harder because you are failing." Shayde replied with a shrug.
"Okay, what questions do you have for me?" He asked, giving up on trying to smooth things over.
"That's better. She's lost a lot of blood. Will you check her for anemia?" Shayde asked, satisfied she had let him know where he stood with her.
"She's most likely anemic for sure judging by her color. I can give her a boost in surgery and we will keep a close watch on that. When I break her nose, the bruising will be just as bad as before, you should prepare her and those boys in there for this. I don't want them coming at me." Jeff said, leaning up on the porch.
"They won't 'come at you'. Quit being such a baby. If you are going to work in this house on his payroll, you had better toughen up." Shayde said. "You should be worried about me." She whispered in a sharp hiss.
"Oh, I am very worried about how we are going to get along." Dr. Jeff nodded, folding his arms.
"We're not, Nothing to worry over that. Just do your job and hope you are good enough at it because I have guns that pierce through walls and metal." Shayde promised. "I am going for a walk." She said, jumping off the porch, not bothering with the steps, still angry.
"Is she serious?" Dr. Jeff asked Carter. He nodded.
"She collects weapons. She has a weapons room. And a torture room. She's sexy when she's pissed off. Hmm." Carter grinned as he watched her walk away.
"Mrs. Verone, you need to head back to your house." A voice came over a megaphone as Shayde was walking the property, closer to the land's end to the gate that was many miles of trees.
"Excuse me?" Shayde asked, stopping. "This is my property, I don't know who you think you are." She said, taken aback that the security would dare speak to her like that. They clearly knew who she was. Or they should have known at the very least.
"We have strict orders to guard this house and property line and you are too close." The guard stepped out from the shadows and looked at her, an AK-47 in his hands.
"Really?" She asked, a challenging eyebrow raised. "Test me. Please." She warned.
"I am going to need you to turn around and I will escort you back to the house." The guard said, clicking the gun.
"Oh hell no, let's go then." Shayde said, running her tongue over her teeth. "Just for the record, you do understand who I am, is this correct?" She asked. "I want to make sure that you understand what you are doing and who you are doing it to, right now." She clarified.
"Mrs. Verone, yes I do. I am only following orders." The guard said.
"Do you have orders to keep that gun in my back? Just curious." Shayde asked, marching back to the house on purpose. "Do you know who I am and what my profession is? Because I would like to think that if you did, your level of stupidity does not exist on my husband's payroll." She said, her hand on her waist. She resisted her urge to pull her gun.
"Just keep walking, Mrs. Verone." The guard said, getting too close to her for her liking.
"I suggest you back it up a bit. I won't be responsible for what happens to you if that gun touches my back." Shayde said, walking up to Carter and Jeff. Her face was bright red and she was beyond irritated. "Carter, is this what you wanted? To keep me prisoner in my own home?" She asked, looking at him.
"What are you talking about?" Carter asked, pulling his cigar out of his mouth.
"I can't walk the damn property line? Him telling me to get back to the house? What, I can't go for a walk?" Shayde asked, holding her arms out. "And him clearly walking up here with an AK-47 pointed at my back? What if Kaidyn was outside, what then?" She asked, not giving him a minute to respond.
"It's not like that, Sweetheart." Carter said, shaking his head.
"Sweetheart this. AND quit hiring stupid ass idiots." Shayde said, not turning around but pulling out a gun and shooting the guard in the head. Dr. Jeff looked a bit paler than he had before.
"Shayde, was that necessary?" Carter asked as Han and Hector came to the door.
"It's fine, boys. Just one of Carter's people on his payroll making stupid decisions." Shayde waved them back in. "See what happens when people piss me off, Jeff?" She asked, pushing past Jeff and hitting his shoulder as she went inside.
"She has such the temper." Carter mused, taking a puff of his cigar.
"Temper? I know my dad warned me but Carter, she shot him. In the head. Without looking." Jeff said, looking at the guard on the ground.
"Uh huh." Carter nodded with a grin. "My Shayde is quite the assassin. He should not have put a gun to her back. I need to talk to this security detail. I can do that tomorrow." He noted, nonchalantly.
"I am not sure if this is the job for us, Carter." Jeff admitted.
"Jeff, no one leaves this property unless they are in a body bag. You took the job, you signed up for it and are getting paid for it." Carter reminded him, shaking his head.
"I didn't realize I was going to have to work with a temperamental mother who can kill without looking at the person." Dr. Jeff admitted.
"Yes, she's hot like that." Carter smiled happily. "She's got a profession. She's an assassin. She kills as a career. You heal, she kills. You can find some common ground somewhere." Carter laughed.
"Carter, that's not how it works. I don't want to die." Dr. Jeff said, shaking his head.
"Just be sure to be careful around her. She can lose her temper quickly over Kaidyn, especially. She almost pulled a headshot on a long time, shall we say, um, family member last night." Carter said with a nod.
"Wow and you are sure I am safe here?" Jeff asked.
"As long as you don't piss her off, you'll be fine. She is so refreshing, isn't she? I sure have missed her." Carter gave a crooked grin.
"What was that about? You okay?" Han asked, watching Shayde sit on the edge of the couch, watching Kaidyn, who was in Hector's arms.
"I'm fine. Dumbass guard walked me from my stroll back with an AK-47 in my back." Shayde said, her lips pushed together in a tight line.
"Oh really? Wow." Han's eyebrow raised. "Did they know who you were?" Han asked, shocked.
"Same thing I asked. I gave him a chance and he said he knew who I was and what he was doing so that's on him." Shayde shrugged.
"That's true. Make stupid choices, win stupid prizes." Han grinned.
"How is she?" Shayde asked, seeing Kaidyn stir a bit.
"Very out of it even when she's awake. Very loopy." Hector replied. "She's been watching Sprinkles and thinks I got him some new toys?" Hector said with a shrug.
"They medicated her well." Han nodded.
"Did I fall asleep? I'm sorry." Kaidyn jerked awake, sitting up some. She looked around, feeling uneasy. "My throat is dry." She said, holding her throat and coughing.
"Here, have a drink." Han held the water bottle for her.
"Oh Hector! Sprinkles doesn't know which light to play with. There's the toy again." Kaidyn said, watching Sprinkles follow four red laser lights. Han and Hector looked at Shayde with alarm.
"Cover her ears, Hector. I will be back." Shayde slowly got up, standing to take a deep breath before she went charging out the door. She passed Carter and Jeff who were still sitting on the porch. She didn't bother to say a word.
"You know, the last guard put the gun in her back. He shoulda knew better. It wasn't her fault." Carter reasoned as he watched her walk towards the trees.
"Where is she going?" Jeff asked, sitting up in his chair, a bit uneasy.
"I don't know but isn't it fascinating?" Carter grinned, intently watching her.
"If you think you are brave enough to put those lasers on me, go ahead. Keep pointing them in my house where my daughter is and you'll all end up in body bags. Learn from these guys who just did it and died. Make no mistake, I know your positions." She promised, yelling it loudly enough she could hear the bustling in the trees. They heard four gunshots and saw her marching back, gun in her hand still.
"Shayde, what happened?" Carter asked, an amused grin on his face. He laughed, clearly enjoying it.
"Your security detail needs a bit of a revamping. I will handle it myself if you don't." She promised and walked in, throwing the door open and letting it slam again. The slam made Dr. Jeff jump.
"She's something else." Carter grinned, spitting. "She's just so dangerous." He grinned.
"How do you handle her?" Jeff asked as he shook his head. "Why don't you tame her down some?" He asked, not sure why Carter found her temper so amusing.
"Because she's perfect." He said simply. "Tomorrow, I am going to need you to draw me something up for her when they take Kaidyn." He said, rather quietly.
"You think she's going to try to go?" Jeff asked, taking a drink if his scotch.
"Oh I know she will, especially after tonight. It needs to be strong. She has a high tolerance." Cater smiled. "I need her knocked out." He looked at Jeff.
"I got it. No problem." Jeff nodded. "You want it for a few hours right?" He asked.
"Yes, for sure. You did get that birth control removed when you saw her in California, right?" He asked, looking out at the property. He was watching for any lasers, the last thing he needed was Shayde to come back outside.
"Yes, she was knocked out. Trying for another one?" Jeff asked.
"I need a reset of sorts." Carter said with a sly grin. "Let's just say I have plans." He nodded, sitting back in his chair and took a puff of his cigar.
"So after this surgery, Kaidyn will need some more aftercare. I am not sure she will just need one surgery, depending on how things go tomorrow of course." Jeff said nonchalantly.
"Yes, you guys are able to stay if need be. I have a room ready for you. I need you to keep Kaidyn as medicated as possible." Carter said, looking inside, seeing Shayde sitting on the couch with Kaidyn's head in her lap asleep.
"Well, that should not be a problem considering the amount of pain she will be in." Jeff said with a shrug.
"Pain or no pain, I want her medicated. Remember what we discussed before? That plan is still a go." Carter said, frowning in Shayde and Kaidyn's direction.
"You're not worried she will remember things from that night?" Jeff asked, scratching his head. "When she said night night, I was pretty sure she remembered me from earlier that night before she was shot." Jeff admitted.
"She hasn't remembered things yet. She has little things she says that makes me wonder sometimes but I don't think she does. That is why if you do your job I am paying you to do and keep her medicated when she starts to talk, everything will be fine." Carter nodded.
"And what about Shayde? How am I gonna get around her?" Jeff asked, crossing his legs.
"Well, if she starts acting crazy and needs meds, you can't help but medicate her, right? You are the doctor. You will know what she needs. Just make sure you are giving her stuff that will make her act a bit...erratic." Carter nodded, his eyes narrowed. "Jordan won't be a problem, right?" He asked.
"Pfft. No. She doesn't question me. I have her under control." Jeff said. "She behaves and does exactly what I tell her to do. We have an understanding." Jeff informed him.
"Hey, My Shayde is under control and just like I like her." Carter pointed at him, feeling defensive.
"I wasn't meaning anything by that, Carter." Jeff promised, seeing Carter get a bit upset.
"Just watch your mouth when it comes to talking about My Shayde. I don't deal with that." Carter warned.
"I can see this is going to be a very interesting and stressful job situation." Dr. Jeff noted.
"As My Shayde pointed out, you are a doctor and doctors should be able to handle high stress situations, yes?" Carter asked.
"Yes, of course, I am just saying I am not sure if Shayde is going to be able to allow me to do my job." Dr. Jeff fretted.
"You do what you need to and what I tell you and let me handle My Shayde. She will be fine. I have her completely under control, don't you worry about that." Carter promised, sitting back and puffing on his cigar.