THREE
"Dr. Reardon," said Piper, glancing suspiciously at Alister, "I'm not sure that's a good idea. You've been treating Leo since he came in. Is it such a good idea to change doctors now?"
"Well, Dr. Crumley knows more about your husbands history," said Reardon. "That can be crucial in treatment."
"Yes, well," said Piper, "I'm not sure how much experience Dr. Crumley has with these kinds of injuries. You probably have quite a bit more experience in cases like this, since you work in an emergency room."
"Mrs. Wyatt hasn't known me very long," said Alister, "but I can assure her I have had extensive experience in these types of injuries. I worked as an ER doctor for many years before going into private practice."
"He would probably have a lot of experience in that case," said Reardon. "It's up to you, but I don't see a problem with Dr. Crumley taking over your husbands' treatment. But if you want me to stay on it, I'll be more than happy to. It's your choice."
"Piper, I think it best if I took over Leo's treatment," said Alister. "For the time being, he'll be my only patient. And I can assure you he's in very good hands. It will also give Dr. Reardon the opportunity to provide better treatment to his other patients."
Alister seemed much too insistent to suit Piper. He had suddenly appeared out of nowhere knowing things he shouldn't have known. And he clearly had some kind of powers. Powers to mesmerize a legitimate doctor.
With Leo's healing ability apparently not working, he could be at risk from any of their enemies. It wouldn't be the first time a demon or warlock had tried to get to the sisters through their White Lighter. For all she knew, this Alister Crumley was the one responsible for all this. It was just too much of a risk for her to take with Leo's life.
"I think I'd rather have Dr. Reardon," she said.
"Could I speak with her privately for a moment?" Alister asked Reardon. "She's obviously very distraught over all this. I'm sure once we have a talk she'll see things more clearly."
"She doesn't need to talk privately," said Prue defensively. "She's fine. If she wants Dr. Reardon that's her choice. And I for one will help her defend that decision."
"Me, too," said Phoebe. "All three of us."
The implication was not lost on Alister. They clearly didn't trust him. But then, they had only met him. They had no reason to trust him.
"Piper, please reconsider," said Alister. "Leo was on Foundation business when he was injured. They're willing to pick up the entire bill for Leo's treatment so you don't have to be concerned with that. But they will insist that I be in charge of his treatment if they do. It's part of the rules."
"Foundation?" questioned Reardon.
"Yes," said Alister. "Leo works for a private philanthropic organization that provides guidance, information, and assistance to certain deserving individuals. It's called the White Light Foundation and Leo is a very important member of the staff."
"I've never heard of the White Light Foundation," said Reardon.
"They prefer to keep a very low profile," said Alister. "The elder," he emphasized the word, "members of the Foundation sent me to help as soon as they learned Leo was injured. I work for the Foundation, too. They felt I might be able to help out these charming ladies during this difficult time."
"Well, as I said," said Reardon, "the decision is Mrs. Wyatt's. It's up to her."
Piper looked at Alister. His choice of words couldn't be an accident. And it would certainly answer some of their questions.
"Maybe Dr. Crumley would be a better choice," she said.
"Fine," said Dr. Reardon. "I'll see that he's listed as the physician of record and that the entire staff gives him all the assistance he needs."
"What's the prognosis?" asked Alister.
"Mr. Wyatt's in a coma at the moment," said Reardon. "The next seventy-two hours are critical. If he comes out of it, he should be fine. If he doesn't, well, we'll just have to wait and see."
"There isn't much we can do until he does," said Alister. "Piper, you should go home and get some rest. The hospital will call if there's any change in Leo's condition."
"Are you coming, too?" asked Piper. "You might be able to answer some questions for me."
"That's why I'm here," said Alister.
"Fine," said Piper. "Dr. Reardon, I'll wait for your call."
"The moment there's any change," promised Reardon.
"Dr. Reardon," said Piper, glancing suspiciously at Alister, "I'm not sure that's a good idea. You've been treating Leo since he came in. Is it such a good idea to change doctors now?"
"Well, Dr. Crumley knows more about your husbands history," said Reardon. "That can be crucial in treatment."
"Yes, well," said Piper, "I'm not sure how much experience Dr. Crumley has with these kinds of injuries. You probably have quite a bit more experience in cases like this, since you work in an emergency room."
"Mrs. Wyatt hasn't known me very long," said Alister, "but I can assure her I have had extensive experience in these types of injuries. I worked as an ER doctor for many years before going into private practice."
"He would probably have a lot of experience in that case," said Reardon. "It's up to you, but I don't see a problem with Dr. Crumley taking over your husbands' treatment. But if you want me to stay on it, I'll be more than happy to. It's your choice."
"Piper, I think it best if I took over Leo's treatment," said Alister. "For the time being, he'll be my only patient. And I can assure you he's in very good hands. It will also give Dr. Reardon the opportunity to provide better treatment to his other patients."
Alister seemed much too insistent to suit Piper. He had suddenly appeared out of nowhere knowing things he shouldn't have known. And he clearly had some kind of powers. Powers to mesmerize a legitimate doctor.
With Leo's healing ability apparently not working, he could be at risk from any of their enemies. It wouldn't be the first time a demon or warlock had tried to get to the sisters through their White Lighter. For all she knew, this Alister Crumley was the one responsible for all this. It was just too much of a risk for her to take with Leo's life.
"I think I'd rather have Dr. Reardon," she said.
"Could I speak with her privately for a moment?" Alister asked Reardon. "She's obviously very distraught over all this. I'm sure once we have a talk she'll see things more clearly."
"She doesn't need to talk privately," said Prue defensively. "She's fine. If she wants Dr. Reardon that's her choice. And I for one will help her defend that decision."
"Me, too," said Phoebe. "All three of us."
The implication was not lost on Alister. They clearly didn't trust him. But then, they had only met him. They had no reason to trust him.
"Piper, please reconsider," said Alister. "Leo was on Foundation business when he was injured. They're willing to pick up the entire bill for Leo's treatment so you don't have to be concerned with that. But they will insist that I be in charge of his treatment if they do. It's part of the rules."
"Foundation?" questioned Reardon.
"Yes," said Alister. "Leo works for a private philanthropic organization that provides guidance, information, and assistance to certain deserving individuals. It's called the White Light Foundation and Leo is a very important member of the staff."
"I've never heard of the White Light Foundation," said Reardon.
"They prefer to keep a very low profile," said Alister. "The elder," he emphasized the word, "members of the Foundation sent me to help as soon as they learned Leo was injured. I work for the Foundation, too. They felt I might be able to help out these charming ladies during this difficult time."
"Well, as I said," said Reardon, "the decision is Mrs. Wyatt's. It's up to her."
Piper looked at Alister. His choice of words couldn't be an accident. And it would certainly answer some of their questions.
"Maybe Dr. Crumley would be a better choice," she said.
"Fine," said Dr. Reardon. "I'll see that he's listed as the physician of record and that the entire staff gives him all the assistance he needs."
"What's the prognosis?" asked Alister.
"Mr. Wyatt's in a coma at the moment," said Reardon. "The next seventy-two hours are critical. If he comes out of it, he should be fine. If he doesn't, well, we'll just have to wait and see."
"There isn't much we can do until he does," said Alister. "Piper, you should go home and get some rest. The hospital will call if there's any change in Leo's condition."
"Are you coming, too?" asked Piper. "You might be able to answer some questions for me."
"That's why I'm here," said Alister.
"Fine," said Piper. "Dr. Reardon, I'll wait for your call."
"The moment there's any change," promised Reardon.