Doctor's Orders.
(Chapter Five)
Bailey McGarrett silently seethed angrily glaring at her doctor.
"I know this isn't the news you wanted to hear Mrs. McGarrett, but speaking with your surgeons and your primary (Bailey's regular doctor). We think we should extend your stay here another four weeks and start your physical therapy as soon as possible." the doctor told her professionally, the man was inwardly cringing as he had already seen how intimidating the lady's husband was and judging by the look she was giving him the two were evenly matched.
"You said I should be able to go home in two weeks, barring any complications! It's been two weeks and nobody has even once mentioned a complication to me!" Bailey raised her voice indignantly.
"I understand Mrs. McGarrett but the nature of your internal injuries was severe and we feel that allowing you to go home now would be rushing your recovery. We also feel it may lead to a setback and land you right back in your current state if not worse." The doctor tried to explain patiently, trying to keep the fear out of his voice.
"This is ridiculous! Look I was in a car wreck I know I'm supposed to be hurting some still. I've been doing everything you and my nurses have asked of me. I am willing to start physical therapy as soon as possible, But until I talk to my regular doctor and Commander McGarrett I am not going to stay here and let you condescend to tell me what is best for my recovery! I am prepared to sign an A.M.A. form, please have the courtesy to get one." Bailey demanded angrily.
"I will of course get you an A.M.A. form if that is what you wish Mrs. McGarrett, but please let me urge you not to sign it at least until you have spoken to your husband and primary care physician." The doctor requested politely.
"Very well. But only until I've spoken to them. And please don't try to delay my doctor visiting me just to try and keep me here longer." Bailey conceded icily.
"Mrs. McGarrett I am a professional. I will have your doctor contacted by the end of the day and no later. Is that agreeable to you?" The doctor asked stiffly.
"Seeing as the Commander will be rejoining me shortly, I suppose it would only be reasonable to agree to your request. Thank you." Bailey replied coldly polite.
"Mrs. McGarret." The doctor said with a nod and left her hospital room.
"Well, that could have gone better. Think I might have been a bit of a witch." Bailey mumbled out loud to herself.
Bailey was slightly disgusted with herself. She wasn't ordinarily a person who behaved so unreasonably or rudely. It was unacceptable behavior. Bailey sighed; the only excuse she could truly find was that she was sick of being stuck in the hospital and was anxious to figure out how to recover her memories. She also noted that it was a pretty poor excuse for treating the doctor as horribly as she had. Lost in this vein of thought Bailey did not hear the door open or see Danny enter the room.
"Hey, you okay babe? Something bothering you or are you just woolgathering?" Danny asked noticing Bailey's distracted expression.
"Inwardly berating myself for my behavior towards the doctor who was just in here before you," Bailey replied scrubbing her face with her hands.
"Okay, so what had you so riled up that you gave the doctor a tongue lashing?" Danny asked slightly amused.
"He informed me that instead of letting me go home tonight or tomorrow morning, he wants me to stay another month. I was rude and nasty to the doctor. I also asked for an A.M.A. Actually more like demanded one." Bailey explained.
"I'm sorry I missed the show. Look, babe, he caught you off guard and you went on the offensive. I get it you wanna go home. I've also been on the receiving end of one of your icy tirades, it's not pleasant. Could you have been politer? Absolutely, but you're dealing with a frustrating situation. Cut yourself a break and try not to get worked up because that will definitely keep you in the hospital longer." Danny advised.
"I'm starting to wonder why I chose Mac over you. You always know the right thing to say Danno." Bailey said.
"I'm flattered babe. You know I was going to ask you out but Steve beat me to it." Danny told her.
"You were? Wow, I wonder how that would have worked out." Bailey said with a smile and a slight blush.
"Yeah, I made the mistake of asking Steve what he thought about it and the next thing I know he steals you for himself. Very…Very disappointing." Danny said with an exaggerated sigh.
Bailey giggled and felt better. Danny was such a good friend. Steve was lucky to have such a great partner and best friend.
"What's so funny Vi?" Steve asked entering the room.
"Danno was just telling me about how he was going to ask me out before you did, but you beat him to it." Bailey grinned and wrinkled her nose at him.
"Yeah, well considering what happened between us in New Orleans. I figured it would be a bad idea to let Danno steal my girl." Steve teased.
"Why what happened in New Orleans between you two that I don't know about?" Danny asked curiously.
Bailey frowned, tilted her head to the side, and tried to remember. She came up blank but judging by the grin on McGarrett's face she was guessing that they had spent the night together.
"Apparently another lost memory. That one should be interesting." Bailey replied.
"Ugh, Vi, now that one stung." Steve groaned in mock pain.
"Don't worry you'll live." Danny quipped.
"I have a feeling that I've always enjoyed watching you two go back and forth like an old married couple." Bailey chuckled.
"You have indeed," Danny confirmed.
"Nice to know," Bailey said.
"So did the doc show up while I was gone?" Steve asked.
"Yes," Bailey replied her voice changing to an irritable tone.
"He pissed her off and got the side of Bailey that scares the crap outta everyone," Danny informed Steve.
"Really? What did he say, Vi?" Steve asked with a raised eyebrow.
"He wants to extend my stay here another month. I told him politely to go to hell and that I'd discuss it with you." Bailey told him sugary.
"Oh wow, he really did piss you off," Steve responded surprised.
"She also demanded an A.M.A." Danny added ratting Bailey out.
"Snitch!" Bailey exclaimed in mock offense.
"Sorry babe, but you did," Danny said.
"I don't want to stay here. I don't need to. I've already agreed to start rehab as soon as possible. I want to go home, Mac. I want to get out of this stupid hospital and remember my life with you and our Ohana." Bailey practically begged Steve.
"What does your regular Doc think?" Steve asked buying himself some time.
There was nothing more Steve McGarrett wanted than to have his wife home and to start figuring everything out. But the last thing he wanted was that to be at the cost of her health.
"He said that he would have her called by the end of the day," Bailey replied sulkily, suspicious that Steve may not take her side.
"Well, why don't I call your doc, ask her if she can come down here and when she gets here we'll decide. Okay?" Steve asked.
"Okay. I trust you to actually call and talk to her, not just leave some lame message." Bailey said feeling a little relieved.
"Alright then." Steve smiled glad that his wife still trusted him to do things on her behalf.
Steve called Bailey's doctor's office, talked to the receptionist, and was put through to Bailey's doctor. Steve explained what was going on and asked if she'd be willing to come down to the hospital, take a look at Bailey's chart, and let them know if she was good to be released. Doctor Dakota Ghee agreed and said she would be there in fifteen minutes. Steve thanked her and hung up.
"She'll be here in about fifteen minutes. Feel better Vi?" Steve asked.
"Much. Thank you, Mac." Bailey replied grateful her husband had done that for her.
Steve and Danny bantered back and forth a bit to kill time and entertain Bailey while they waited. Bailey giggled and teased them both catching on to what they were up to.
Doctor Ghee entered the room and was pleased to see Bailey looking well and that her spirits were being kept up. She asked Bailey some questions while she read her chart and was pleased with the answers.
"Do you think you can handle one more week?" Dr. Ghee asked.
"If I have to. I'd rather go home though." Bailey replied.
"I understand, but let's do one more week and six months of outpatient rehab. I think it would be the smartest move." Doctor Ghee told her.
"When can I go back to work?" Bailey asked.
"You're the assistant for Five-0 correct?" Doctor inquired.
"Best we've got," Steve said.
"Alright, if I clear her going back to work Commander, it's not going to be for another two months and I want her strictly on desk duty. I'm going to assume you know what that means."
"Paperwork and nothing else," Danny replied for Steve.
"Correct Detective. And I mean it until I clear it she is to take dictation if so needed and do paperwork or computer work. No gophering. No going out in the field with you. Do you three understand me?" Doctor Ghee asked firmly.
"Yes ma'am." the three of them responded.
"Good. Now that we have this all sorted I will go let your attending (hospital doctor) and nurses know about the change. Have a lovely rest of your day." Doctor Ghee said pleasantly and left the room.
"Don't worry babe, a week will fly by. Steve and I will make sure you have plenty of visitors and maybe you can figure out a project to do with the yarn and stuff you got." Danny consoled her
Bailey nodded her head. It wasn't what she had wanted but it was a decent enough compromise and she could live with it.