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Nick watched the session with Scott and his therapist. But that didn't mean he didn't like what he was seeing. This was only the second session so far, but reading the therapists' notes on the first session didn't make him feel any better.
"It's OK." A voice behind him said quietly.
Nick turned halfway to see Cori standing behind him. "What's OK?"
"That you're not liking the way this is progressing, or having second thoughts about agreeing to the therapy. So am I."
Nick blinked and looked down as she came to stand beside him. She wasn't dressed for office visits today, instead in scrubs and a pair of tennis shoes. The green did nothing for her, but she still looked rather attractive in them. He shook his head - he had to be out of his mind to think things like that. He did, however, notice that she was just tall enough to rest her cheek against his shoulder if she were so motivated to.
"Is there someplace you and I can talk? I don't fancy a long walk back to my office just yet and I did want to talk to the therapist when this is done."
Nick nodded and motioned her over to a quiet corner that was out of the way. Again, he could not help but notice things about her. The way she walked, the style of her hair and how it matched her temperament, the faint splash of freckles across her nose and the mole that graced her upper lip on the left side of her mouth. He had to be insane. Hadn't he learned enough from Rae and her gut-kicking?
"I'm not happy either with the decision between us."
"Dr. Cori, I'm not sure-"
"Just Cori, remember? We both agreed to be friendly."
She smiled easily and he felt his heart rate speed up just a bit. What the bloody hell was going on? "Cori then… I'm not sure I understand. You pushed for the therapy. You yelled at me in front of colleagues and patients, called me a grandstanding cutter and then negotiated me up to three weeks of therapy with weekly progress reports. Don't tell me you're having second thoughts now."
"I'm not having second thoughts. I'm having first thoughts and 'wake up stupid' thoughts." She sighed and crossed her arms across her stomach, leaning against the wall as she looked up at him. "I've had a nagging dislike for surgeons since I got out of med school and started out on my own. I try everything I can and some things that probably should be illegal to keep my patients from having to have surgery. Most of the time, it works. But when a patient of mine truly and honestly has the need for surgery, I'm the first to admit it."
"What does this have to do with Scott Philders and his wrist?" If Nick wasn't confused before, he certainly was now.
"You got me so turned inside out and frustrated that I couldn't see the end of my nose. After re-reading your diagnosis, and then my own, I came to the realization that he needed surgery above all else. That's what I came up here to talk to you about. His therapist said you'd been here to see his first session yesterday and I took a chance on seeing you here today. I need you to do the surgery on his wrist."
Nick had to fight to keep his jaw from dropping onto the floor. "You're sure you will sign off on the surgery?"
"Yes Nick. As soon as he's done, I'll pull him aside and let him know. He's suspected all along that he'd need it. I just gave him the false hope that he didn't." She sighed and looked back at the session.
"No, you didn't. You gave him the knowledge that his doctor was fighting for him and doing everything she could."
Cori turned her head back to look at Nick. That was probably the nicest thing anyone had said to her in some time. For a moment she just gaped at him. Then quite unexpectedly, both by her and Nick, she threw herself up against him and kissed him square on the lips. Nothing deep, just a quick peck on the lips.
Nick stumbled back, his eyes widening in shock as she kissed him and stepped back. He stared at her for a moment, then chuckled as she giggled nervously and whipped around to go see her patient. At times he swore she wasn't more then 19 or 20 years old at heart. Unconsciously he licked his lips as he turned the opposite direction and headed off. But, he stopped, forehead wrinkled up as his eyebrows knit together in confusion. She tasted like… chocolate?. Again he licked his lower lip and again he tasted something chocolate. Even more confused, he ran his finger over his upper lip and inspected it in the light. The pad of his fingertip shimmered. Some sort of flavored lip balm then he assumed as he sniffed it carefully. Yes, a chocolate flavored lip balm. Coriandra Eleszara was full of shocks and surprises. The thought kept a smile on his face as he turned back to the therapy session to watch Dr. Cori.
Cori, meanwhile, had interrupted the therapy session and sat down. Her lips still tingled from the all too brief kiss she'd given Nick. But, she cleared her throat and explained everything to Scott and his father.
"I'm sorry Scott. I was so sure that therapy would be the cure for this. It's not. After re-reading the surgeon's diagnosis and listening to the therapist… and a healthy dose of my own self-doubt, Dr. Kokoris and I have come to the mutual conclusion that a very simple surgical procedure is needed to put the wrist bones back into their proper places."
"But, you said…" Scott trailed off.
"Yes, I know. Scott, I have always tried to keep my patients from unnecessary surgical procedures. But this time, in trying to keep you from something unnecessary, I also kept you from something very necessary. However, it's not too late and it can be fixed easily."
"There's no other way?" Scott's father asked quietly.
"No. I wish there were. If the bones hadn't been as displaced as they were, then perhaps there would be. But not with them as bad as they are. It hurts each time the therapist manipulates your wrist, doesn't it? And you can feel a tingling in your fingertips that runs all the way up your arm, can't you?"
Scott nodded his head yes both times and fought to keep his eyes from tearing up. He didn't want surgery anymore than Dr. Cori did. But, if she said it was necessary, then it was.
"That's because the bones are out of their original places and pressing against things they shouldn't - nerves, other bones maybe, soft tissues." She reached over and wrapped her fingers around his good hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Dr. Kokoris, the surgeon who evaluated you the day after? He'll be performing the surgery. He's nice and he'll explain everything to you."
"Will you be there?" he asked quietly.
Cori's heart broke. He wasn't the All-City Starting Center for his High School any more. Now he just looked like a scared 17-year-old. "Yes baby, I'll be there observing every step of the way. I'll come see you in your room before they take you down to the Operating Room and I'll be there in the Recovery when you come out."
Scott smiled and hugged Dr. Cori. She returned his hug, rubbing his back gently. Nick smiled. She was forever and a day coming up with something new to astonish him each time he turned around. Tomorrow should prove interesting indeed.
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